Sunday, 19 Jan On this day ...
Wuhan Institute of Virology main entrance, 2016. Source Wikimedia Commons
Q1. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that the US Dept of Energy now says "with low confidence" that the most likely cause of the Covid pandemic was an accidental leak from a lab in Wuhan. The Energy Dept was previously undecided.
Of the eight other US agencies investigating the origins of the outbreak, the FBI says with "moderate confidence" it was a lab leak, five (The National Intelligence Council, and four that officials decline to identify) assess with "low confidence" the outbreak was a result of natural animal to human transmission, while the CIA, and another unnamed agency remain undecided.
How do you think the Covid pandemic started?
Of the eight other US agencies investigating the origins of the outbreak, the FBI says with "moderate confidence" it was a lab leak, five (The National Intelligence Council, and four that officials decline to identify) assess with "low confidence" the outbreak was a result of natural animal to human transmission, while the CIA, and another unnamed agency remain undecided.
How do you think the Covid pandemic started?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Virus naturally jumped animal to human
14%
13%
14%
4%
11%
25%
22%
8%
14%
16%
Lab accident, scientific research
30%
32%
28%
24%
32%
35%
27%
49%
20%
24%
Lab accident, bioweapon research
24%
27%
21%
38%
24%
11%
28%
17%
26%
25%
Bioweapon intentionally deployed
17%
16%
18%
31%
22%
3%
8%
13%
24%
19%
Other
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
2%
0%
0%
Don't know
14%
11%
18%
3%
10%
24%
13%
13%
15%
14%
Don't care
1%
0%
2%
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
2%
2%
Q2. Do you believe the mainstream media has given appropriate air to the possibility of a lab leak?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes
27%
24%
28%
6%
19%
46%
24%
28%
23%
32%
No, too much
8%
6%
9%
1%
9%
14%
11%
6%
6%
12%
No, too little
52%
62%
44%
89%
57%
19%
53%
47%
59%
47%
Don't know
11%
7%
16%
3%
12%
18%
11%
18%
9%
7%
Don't care
1%
1%
1%
1%
2%
2%
0%
1%
2%
1%
Q3. If a lab accident in the US started a global pandemic, which of these, if they operated the lab in question, do you think would be forthcoming? (Please choose three, one from each of A, B, and C)
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Don't know
4%
3%
4%
2%
4%
5%
3%
2%
5%
5%
Don't care
1%
2%
0%
2%
0%
0%
2%
1%
1%
1%
In June 2021 President Biden directed intelligence agencies to "take another look" at Covid's origins. According to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, "President Biden specifically requested that the national labs, which are part of the Energy Department, be brought into this assessment because he wants to put every tool at use."
What is your view on how the COVID-19 pandemic originated?
18% Natural animal transmission
32% Lab accident, scientific research
20% Lab accident, bioweapon research
15% Intentional bioweapon released
Entities in this poll: (click to rate or comment on)
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