Former MI6 head claimed COVID-19 was engineered in Wuhan

A former head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, informed Boris Johnson in March 2020 that COVID-19 was likely engineered in a Wuhan lab. This classified dossier was dismissed by Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific advisor, who favored the natural origin narrative. German intelligence also concluded that the virus likely originated from a lab leak, but their findings were kept secret. Reports indicate that some officials and scientists may have misled the public about the virus's origins to maintain a consensus. The New York Times has acknowledged its previous support for the natural origin theory, admitting it had inaccurate information. New details suggest that safety measures at the Wuhan lab may have been inadequate.