China said that a World Health Organization team of experts will arrive this week to investigate the origins of the coronavirus, after the country was criticized by the health body and other nations for a lack of transparency around tracking the pathogen’s source.
The team of scientists will come to China from Jan. 14, the National Health Commission said Monday. The confirmation of a date comes after a rare rebuke by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who expressed disappointment last week that China had not yet given final permission for the experts’ entry, even as some had already started traveling.
The investigation into the virus’s origin will be conducted jointly with Chinese scientists once the WHO team arrives, the NHC said, without providing further details. It’s unclear if the outside experts will be allowed to visit Wuhan, the city where COVID-19 cases first emerged last year.