WHO's probe team for Covid origin heads to China

Beijing: An international expert team from the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to arrive in China on Thursday to conduct joint scientific research with Chinese scientists on the origin of the novel coronavirus, the National Health Commission said on Monday.

China Daily reported that further details have not been disclosed in the brief statement released on the commission's website.

Zeng Yixin, the vice-minister of the commission, said at a news conference that China has attached high importance to tracing the origins of the novel coronavirus and supports cooperation between China and the WHO on the issue.

This comes after the World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed disappointment over China not finalising the permissions for the arrival of the team that was to investigate the origin of the coronavirus last week.

He added, "I am very disappointed with this news given that two members had already begun their journeys and others were not able to travel at the last minute. But I have been in contact with senior Chinese officials and I have once again made clear that the mission is a priority for WHO and the international team."