Experts say the market still plays a role in the investigation of the virus’ origin.
That changed on Dec 31, 2019, after four cases of a mystery pneumonia were linked to the market and it was shuttered overnight. It’s become a symbol of the fierce political and scientific battle raging around the origin of the virus with Beijing continuing to spar with the US and other countries, accusing them of bias.Health authorities in China and abroad have warned that origin tracing efforts could take years and yield inconclusive results.
In recent months, Chinese diplomats and state media have said they believe the market is not the origin but the victim of the disease, and have thrown support behind theories that the virus potentially originated in another country.Experts say the market still plays a role in the investigation and is therefore unlikely to be demolished, though much of that research will rely on samples taken immediately after the outbreak began.
This week, a guard at the entrance to the eyeware market took temperatures and warned journalists not to take videos or photos from inside the building.