Altercation between Rand and Fauci over COVID-19 origin

Sen. Rand Paul and Dr. Anthony Fauci clashed over the funding of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The Chinese research lab allegedly responsible for COVID-19’s “initiation.”

In Tuesday’s senate hearing, Sen. Paul briefed on the ‘gain of function research,’ the medical research field focusing on the transmission of pathogens. He claimed that a US virologist was involved in ‘gain of function research’ with the Chinese institute of Virology which was funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).

“This gain-of-function research has been funded by the NIH – Dr. Fauci, do you still support funding of the NIH lab in Wuhan?” Sen. Paul inquired Dr. Fauci.

“With all due respect, you are entirely and completely incorrect. The NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” said the NIH chief denying the allegations. He also denied any involvement of Dr. Ralph Baric, the US virologist.

The Senator later asked, “Will you in front of this group categorically say that the COVID-19 could not have occurred through serial passage in a laboratory?” To which Fauci replied by saying “I do not have any accounting of what the Chinese may have done, and I am fully in favor of any further investigation of what went on in China,” he went further on to say. “However, I will repeat again, the NIH and NIAID categorically has not funded gain-of-function research to be conducted in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.”

The origin of COVID-19 is still a mystery and Senator Rand Paul’s revelation of scientists modifying viruses to have 15% positivity rate was shocking. Fauci avoided that part and stayed on investigating the Wuhan Institute of Virology.