Thread by @kakape

Remarks by @DrTedros just now at member states session make it clear that #covid19 origins mission is set for a bit of a reboot.

who.int/director-gener…

@DrTedros Tedros announced the establishment of a permanent International Scientific Advisory Group for Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), because “...the world needs a more stable and predictable framework for studying the origins of new pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential."

@DrTedros “SAGO will play a vital role in the next phase of studies into the origins of #SARSCoV2, as well as the origins of future new pathogens”, says @drtedros.
An open call for nominations to SAGO to be launched soon.

@DrTedros Tedros outlined five areas for future study into the origins of #covid19, crucially including as the fifth:
“audits of relevant laboratories and research institutions operating in the area of the initial human cases identified in December 2019”

@DrTedros The framework for the origins mission always envisioned a two-stage process.
It basically looks like the original mission will now end after stage 1 and a new group (larger? with more varied expertise?) will push forward from here…

@DrTedros Of course, the problems remain the same:
How to do good science in the face of politicisation around the origins question
How to get access to relevant data/samples
Plus all the usual troubles of finding what could be a very small needle in a very large haystack

@DrTedros Only power @WHO has in all this are words:
"we expect China to support this next phase of the scientific process by sharing all relevant data in a spirit of transparency. Equally, we expect all Member States to support the scientific process by refraining from politicising it”

@DrTedros @WHO My take on all this:
Establishing a permanent group like SAGO is a smart move. Like so many other things established in this pandemic it may not work all that well now (we'll see), but it puts in place a mechanism for next time...