Hacker News Reader

Comment by namarie | Hacker News Reader

Why would they release it among their own people first?

If this were Tom Clancy or a James Bond 007 plot ... you'd release a less infectious/harmful version locally otherwise it would be too obvious and you might get nuked.

If there were a less harmful version....

https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/coronavirus-aggressive-l-t...

I think this is the D vs G strains?

https://www.biospace.com/article/mutated-covid-19-viral-stra...

I'm not denying the plausibility that it was simply a mistake with a highly contagious virus being studied in their Wuhan lab, but they would have certainly been aware they would have a much better chance at curbing the virus than countries that support more individual freedom. Releasing it there first, if intentional, would further signal it was an accident and prevent severe diplomatic fallout.

> I'm not denying the plausibility that it was simply a mistake with a highly contagious virus being studied in their Wuhan lab

There are two labs in Wuhan. The institute of virology, and the wuhan CDC. The institute of virology is 12 km from where the virus started spreading. The CDC lab -which does not study viruses- was the one at the center of the spread.

The amount of bullshit associated with the origins of the virus is embarrassing. It would be one thing if it was planted propaganda- there are obvious lies and embellishments, but the sheer number of mistranslations, misunderstandings, and hilariously implausible theories taken as fact is insane. Potholer54 did a rather methodical takedown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab-r0capbzk

Reply on news.ycombinator.com