Report uncovers additional evidence showing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and World Health Organization are culpable in the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic

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Washington, D.C.- Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul released the final report detailing the investigation into the origins and initial handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, following the interim report released in June 2020. This investigation further uncovered how coronavirus spread throughout China and to other countries because of the CCP’s cover-up, as well as grave missteps by the World Health Organization. In addition, it builds on recommendations in the interim report to better protect the world from another pandemic.

“As we continued our investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, we uncovered even more disturbing evidence about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) coverup and WHO Director General Tedros’s gross mishandling of the virus that allowed it to turn into a deadly pandemic,” said Lead Republican Michael McCaul. “It is crystal clear that had the CCP been transparent, and had the head of the WHO cared more about global health than appeasing the CCP, lives could have been spared and widespread economic devastation could have been mitigated. Revealing the truth is just the first step; we must hold both the CCP and WHO Director General Tedros accountable for the suffering they have allowed the world to endure.”

This report builds on research conducted for the interim report and utilizes multiple sources of information including WeChat logs and social media posts from doctors and residents of Wuhan, domestic and international open source media reports, academic papers, peer-reviewed scientific research, think tank products, and public assessments from the American and French intelligence communities.

Rep. McCaul also serves as the Chairman of the China Task Force, a group of lawmakers working to find and address the most serious threats posed to the United States by the Chinese Communist Party. A summary of the final report’s findings on the CCP’s cover-up and WHO’s missteps will be included in the upcoming China Task Force report.

Background

Early Stages of the Pandemic:

CCP officials knew about human to human transmission and took steps to hide it from the public as the virus spread both inside and beyond its borders. (pg. 12-13)

The Chinese Communist Party’s Cover-up:

There are multiple examples of the CCP harassing, detaining, and in some cases disappearing journalists, scientists, and healthcare professionals who were telling the truth about the CCP’s handling of coronavirus. (pg. 27)

As early as mid-December, the CCP had enough information to assess it was legally obligated to inform the WHO that the outbreak in Wuhan was an event “that may constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” (PHEIC) but they chose not to in violation of international law. (pg. 30)

The CCP nationalized their medical supply chain in early February, directing the production of medical supplies, including U.S. companies’ production lines in China, to dramatically increase and stop foreign exports so that they could stockpile Personal Protective Equipment. (pg. 33)

This is further evidence the CCP knew how catastrophic this virus could be before they took steps to warn the world.  (pg. 33)

Had the CCP been transparent and followed international health regulations, it is estimated that, at a minimum, the CCP could have prevented two-thirds of cases in China before the end of February. This would have enabled an earlier and more focused global response. (pg. 36)

The Wuhan Institute of Virology:

There are documented concerns about the safety and integrity of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, including in State Department Cables. The CCP still refuses to share lab samples from WIV that would help assess if WIV played a role in the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. (pg. 42-43)

World Health Organization Missteps:

The WHO refused to heed warnings from Taiwan and Hong Kong about human to human transmission. (pg. 44-45)

WHO Director General Tedros had enough information to declare a PHEIC on January 23rd, though he opted not to; this decision violated WHO mandates. (pg. 45)

The evidence shows the decision to not declare a PHEIC was likely political in nature rather than scientific. (pg. 46)

WHO guidance has routinely lagged behind the scientific community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to not recommending the widespread use of masks for 130+ days, their guidance on aerosol transmission has been widely criticized by health experts. (pg. 47-48)

The WHO has been complicit in the spread and normalization of CCP propaganda and disinformation. According to outside experts, the WHO’s public statements were “heavily influenced by the Chinese Communist Party”. (pg. 50 – 51)

Recommendations:

Director General Tedros should accept responsibility for his detrimental impact on the COVID-19 pandemic response and resign as head of the WHO. (pg. 57)

Taiwan should be readmitted to the WHO as an observer to ensure that future warnings about potential health and emergencies do not go unheeded. (pg. 58-59)

We recommend the WHO fix the deficiencies outlined by the Administration, adopt the recommendations of this report through internal action where possible, and make preparations for improvements and reforms that need to be ratified by the World Health Assembly at its next meeting or emergency session. By remaining part of a WHO that is ready for change, the United States can be drive forward the necessary reforms of the International Health Regulations and the WHO. (pg. 59)

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed several flaws in the International Health Regulations that must be reformed to help mitigate the spread of future health emergencies.  (pg. 60)

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