Covid-19 virus may not have emerged in China, WHO scientist claims

Professor John Watson suggested the virus may have emerged outside of China (Ben Birchall/PA)

The virus which causes Covid-19 may not have emerged in China, a World Health Organisation (WHO) scientist has suggested.

Professor John Watson, who was part of the WHO team that travelled to China to investigate the origins of the pandemic, said the virus’s leap from animals to humans may have occurred outside the country’s borders.