COVID-19 Timeline: Key Moments of the Lab Leak Theory

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Lab Leak Timeline

When the lab leak theory was first introduced, it was disputed by almost all scientists and public health officials. Late 2020 to early 2021 was when it started to be taken more seriously. This timeline illustrates the back and forth on the theory.

• December 2019: The first few cases of COVID-19 were reported as an unknown respiratory illness.

  
  

• February 2020: Senator Cotton expresses his thoughts on the origin of COVID, sharing his opinion on it being leaked from a lab.

  
  

• March 2020: A group of scientists write and publish a letter disagreeing with the lab leak conspiracy theory.

  
  

• April 2020: Donald Trump claims the lab leak theory "makes sense", which is quickly refuted by Anthony Fauci (infectious disease expert).

  
  

• February 2021: WHO publishes a statement saying their research into the lab leak theory was inconclusive, but claims it's unlikely. Nature also publishes a journal about a relative virus of COVID-19 having natural origins, further discrediting the lab leak theory.

  
  

• May 2021: Scientists publish another letter saying they must take all theories seriously until one is proven. Also in May Joe Biden calls for a review of the two theories (natural origin versus lab origin), this review turns out to be inconclusive.