WUHAN:A World Health Organization-led team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday visited the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China's central region of Hubei, where the outbreak emerged in late 2019.
The group of independent experts spent about 4-1/2 hours on its longest site visit since completing two weeks of quarantine on Thursday, and did not speak to waiting journalists.
But a WHO official in Geneva said that they had held "very good discussions" with their Chinese counterparts.
The WHO, which has sought to manage expectations for the mission, has said its members would be limited to visits organised by their Chinese hosts and have no contact with community members, because of health curbs.
The group has so far also visited hospitals where early cases were detected, markets, and an exhibition on the battle with the outbreak in the provincial capital of Wuhan.
"The visits that they have provide detailed information and all of this detailed information requires analysis which is ongoing between the international team and the Chinese counterparts. And all of that detailed analysis leads to more and more questions," Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19, told a Geneva news conference on Monday evening.
"Their focus is on the early cases they are having very good discussions around that."
Mike Ryan, WHO's top emergency official, said: "We continue to ask the questions, we continue to push for more data ... It's a detective story and you go through again and you answer more questions."
No full itinerary for the group's field work has been announced, and journalists covering the tightly controlled visit have been kept at a distance from team members.
Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow with the Council of Foreign Relations in Washington, said two weeks in the field was not much time for the experts.
"I don't think they have the time to get any conclusive results. It is more like communication and information exchange," Huang told Reuters by phone from Washington.
"It depends how diligent they are in digging new information but also about how cooperative and accommodating the Chinese side will be."
Beijing has sought to cast doubt on the notion that the coronavirus originated in China, pointing to imported frozen food as a conduit.
That hypothesis figured again on Sunday in the Global Times tabloid run by the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily.
On Sunday, the experts visited the Huanan seafood market linked to initial infections, and the Baishazhou wholesale food market, where a loudspeaker repeatedly announced that the sale of imported cold chain products was banned at the market.
Reuters
Tue Feb 02 2021
![WHO team in Wuhan hold good discussions with Chinese counterparts WHO team in Wuhan hold good discussions with Chinese counterparts](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-02/41612228228_WHO.jpg)
Members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) team, tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), leave their hotel in Wuhan, Hubei province, China Feb 2, 2021. REUTERSpic
![Dua pelajar cemerlang Malaysia terpilih sertai CSSP di Geneva Dua pelajar cemerlang Malaysia terpilih sertai CSSP di Geneva](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723670962_ShimZiJunNurulN.jpg)
Dua pelajar cemerlang Malaysia terpilih sertai CSSP di Geneva
Dua pelajar cemerlang Malaysia dipilih menyertai Program Pelajar Musim Panas CERN (CSSP) 2024 di Geneva, Switzerland.
![Hari Kebangsaan: Tidak berkira hias rumah, kereta sejak 24 tahun lepas Hari Kebangsaan: Tidak berkira hias rumah, kereta sejak 24 tahun lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723628328_TBKandapan.jpg)
Hari Kebangsaan: Tidak berkira hias rumah, kereta sejak 24 tahun lepas
Kandapan juga cukup terkenal dengan keretanya yang turut dihiasi Jalur Gemilang, bendera Johor dan semua negeri serta pelbagai pelekat imej bertemakan kemerdekaan termasuk wajah pemimpin negara.
![Malaysia kekal destinasi utama bagi pelaburan PTTEP - BMI Malaysia kekal destinasi utama bagi pelaburan PTTEP - BMI](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-02/81613025046_TBPelantarMinyak.jpg)
Malaysia kekal destinasi utama bagi pelaburan PTTEP - BMI
Malaysia akan kekal sebagai destinasi utama bagi pelaburan syarikat minyak nasional Thailand, PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP), dalam jangka masa pendek dan panjang.
Jualan penyaman udara naik mendadak di negara Balkan
Menetap di negara sejuk, mereka tidak pernah terfikir memasang penyaman udara di dalam rumah memandangkan musim panas bukanlah setiap hari. Namun, cuaca panas melampau membuatkan mereka bertukar fikiran.
![Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61706688348_wismaputra.jpg)
Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Kerajaan Malaysia mengecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan Masjid Al-Aqsa oleh ekstremis Zionis Israel pada 13 Ogos.
![Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723653359_TBMOKHTAR.jpg)
Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham
Ayah kepada penyanyi dan Youtubers Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar reda dengan pemergian anak lelakinya walaupun itu bukan pengakhiran yang beliau harapkan.
Ahli perniagaan diberkas, terlibat dalam aktiviti kumpulan mafia
Seorang ahli perniagaan Itali ditangkap di bandar Natal, Brazil pada selasa.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Srettha hormati keputusan mahkamah
Srettha Thavisin menghormati keputusan Mahkamah Perlembagaan Thailand yang memecatnya daripada jawatan Perdana Menteri.
Lahir empat hari lepas, bayi kembar maut angkara serangan rejim Zionis
Kembar lelaki diberikan nama Asser manakala Ayssel pula nama diberi buat kembar perempuan, kedua-duanya lahir pada 10 Ogos lepas.
Lelaki tikam ibu saudara direman tujuh hari
Seorang lelaki yang disyaki menikam ibu saudaranya di kepala dengan gunting, semalam direman selama tujuh hari hingga 21 Ogos ini.
![6 maut, 10 cedera selepas pavilion runtuh akibat petir 6 maut, 10 cedera selepas pavilion runtuh akibat petir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723440656_mayat.jpg)
6 maut, 10 cedera selepas pavilion runtuh akibat petir
Sebuah pavilion di taman di Changzhou wilayah Jiangsu, timur China runtuh akibat dipanah petir, mengakibatkan enam orang maut dan sepuluh lagi cedera, lapor Xinhua.
![ASEAN kekal rakan perdagangan terbesar China ASEAN kekal rakan perdagangan terbesar China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723413726_ASEANChina.jpg)
ASEAN kekal rakan perdagangan terbesar China
China menjadi rakan perdagangan terbesar ASEAN selama 15 tahun berturut-turut, manakala ASEAN menjadi rakan perdagangan terbesar China selama empat tahun berturut-turut.
![China dijangka 'selamatkan' ekonomi global sekali lagi - Penganalisis China dijangka 'selamatkan' ekonomi global sekali lagi - Penganalisis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/81703472832_MalaysiaChina.jpg)
China dijangka 'selamatkan' ekonomi global sekali lagi - Penganalisis
Tan berkata, China bakal memperkenalkan dasar agresif bagi memperkukuh ekonominya sejajar perkembangan terkini di negara itu.
![Duta Besar China ke AS: Jom melancong ke China tanpa ragu-ragu Duta Besar China ke AS: Jom melancong ke China tanpa ragu-ragu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71722935843_tbForbiddenCity.jpg)
Duta Besar China ke AS: Jom melancong ke China tanpa ragu-ragu
Antara lain, China menyediakan layanan transit tanpa visa selama 72 jam atau 144 jam kepada pemegang pasport dari 54 negara termasuk AS.
![Budaya Baba dan Nyonya semakin diiktiraf masyarakat antarabangsa - Wong Budaya Baba dan Nyonya semakin diiktiraf masyarakat antarabangsa - Wong](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51722762952_FestivalPeranakanM.jpg)
Budaya Baba dan Nyonya semakin diiktiraf masyarakat antarabangsa - Wong
Budaya masyarakat Baba dan Nyonya di Melaka semakin diiktiraf komuniti antarabangsa khususnya pelancong dari China, kata Pengerusi Bernama Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.
![Olimpik Paris 2024: Beregu lelaki Taiwan tewaskan China untuk pertahan emas Olimpik Paris 2024: Beregu lelaki Taiwan tewaskan China untuk pertahan emas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41722788987_TBTAIWANVSCHINA.jpg)
Olimpik Paris 2024: Beregu lelaki Taiwan tewaskan China untuk pertahan emas
Mereka menumpaskan beregu lelaki nombor satu dunia dari China, Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang, menerusi keputusan 17-21, 21-18, 21-19.
![Malaysia terima hampir 1.2 juta pelancong dari China Malaysia terima hampir 1.2 juta pelancong dari China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81722742681_TiongKingSing.jpg)
Malaysia terima hampir 1.2 juta pelancong dari China
Malaysia menerima 1,185,050 pelancong dari China setakat Mei 2024 iaitu peningkatan 194 peratus berbanding tempoh sama tahun lepas.
![China sumbang dana kepada UNRWA, tingkat bantuan ke Gaza China sumbang dana kepada UNRWA, tingkat bantuan ke Gaza](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51722640282_tbUNRWA.jpg)
China sumbang dana kepada UNRWA, tingkat bantuan ke Gaza
Katanya, China sentiasa memberikan sokongan kepada UNRWA sementara menyeru masyarakat antarabangsa menyokong agensi itu melaksanakan misinya.
![China catat bulan Julai paling panas sejak 1961 China catat bulan Julai paling panas sejak 1961](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71722527134_TBChinaHot.jpg)
China catat bulan Julai paling panas sejak 1961
Purata suhu di China pada bulan Julai mencapai 23.21 darjah Celsius, mengatasi 23.17 darjah Celsius yang dicatatkan pada Julai 2017.
![Malaysia harap China timbal balik kemudahan pengecualian visa 30 hari Malaysia harap China timbal balik kemudahan pengecualian visa 30 hari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81722314618_TBTokMat.jpg)
Malaysia harap China timbal balik kemudahan pengecualian visa 30 hari
Malaysia berharap China menimbal balik kemudahan pengecualian visa buat rakyat negara ini selama 30 hari seperti yang diberikan Malaysia.