Secretary of State Antony Blinken appearing in a video meeting of the United Nations Security Council urged all nations to release scientific data concerning COVID-19.  He commented, “To better understand this pandemic and prepare for the next one all countries must make available all data from the earliest days of any outbreak.”  His reference was to reluctance by authorities in China to provide the WHO Investigation Panel raw data on early diagnoses of COVID-19 considered critical to establishing when and where the pandemic emerged.  The Biden Administration has issued a formal criticism of China over lack of transparency.

Blinken stated, “The ongoing expert investigation into the origins of this pandemic and the report that will be issued must be independent of the findings based on science and facts and free from interference.” 

In contrast, the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, urged nations to “resist  prejudice, respect science, and reject disinformation and attempts to politicize the pandemic.”

The U.S. has rejoined the WHO and will contribute $200 million in contributions that were suspended by the previous Administration.