Debunk lies and clarify misconceptions! Experts from China and South Africa talked about the origin of the virus

◎ Science and Technology Daily reporter Du Huabin

The Chinese Embassy in South Africa and the South African Academy of Sciences recently jointly held a seminar on "Debunking lies about the COVID-19 Epidemic: Scientific Perspectives from China and South Africa". Minister Li Zhigang of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Sudial, President of the South African Academy of Sciences, Duterte, Deputy Director General of the South African Ministry of Science and Innovation, Gao Fu, Director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Karim, former Chairman of the Southern Chief-level COVID-19 Advisory Committee and Academician of the South African Academy of Sciences, and more than 100 people from the South African scientific and technological community attended the meeting online. The meeting was chaired by Reese, Chairman of the South African Sanitary Products Regulatory Authority Committee and a member of the South African Academy of Sciences.

Minister Li Zhigang pointed out that the Chinese Embassy in South Africa and the South African Academy of Sciences jointly organized the seminar to debunk lies about the COVID-19 epidemic, clarify misunderstandings, and share scientific views from China and South Africa with everyone. At present, all countries are working hard to fight the epidemic and restore their economies. In the process of fighting the epidemic, the ability of mankind to cope with the epidemic has also been further improved. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China and South Africa have united as one and worked together to overcome difficulties together. Minister Li Zhigang stressed that the traceability of the virus is a scientific issue and should not be politicized, stigmatized and ideologicalized. Scientists around the world should work closely together to find the true origins of the coronavirus.

Deputy Director General Duteit said that the elimination of the epidemic and the recovery of the economy should be based on scientific guidance, the current global cooperation and multilateralism have been eroded by the epidemic, science should not be reduced to political tools, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the South African Academy of Sciences should continue to deepen strategic cooperation, the role of scientific and technological innovation is extremely critical, China has played an important leadership role in the fight against the epidemic and the development of BRICS vaccines in Central and South Africa, China and South Africa not only cooperate closely in science and technology, economy and trade and politics, but also the people of the two countries are close. Believe that science can promote unity, believe that science is destined to defeat the epidemic.

Academician Gao Fu said that the traceability of the virus is crucial to the current and future epidemic prevention and control, many outbreaks in human history are caused by the coronavirus, tracking the origin of the virus requires long-term and extensive sample accumulation, it may take years or decades, the geographical source of the virus may not depend on the initial patient, need to conduct in-depth research from epidemiology, genomics, pathogens, serology and other aspects, open mind and close international cooperation is the key to tracking the origin of the new crown virus.

Professor Karim introduced the current situation and future development trend of the epidemic in South Africa, analyzed in detail the current 7 misjudgments about the new crown epidemic, and said that it is necessary to learn from the history of AIDS prevention and control, no one can be alone under the epidemic, only if all mankind holds a common vision, shoulders common responsibilities, interdependence and solidarity and cooperation can finally extinguish the epidemic.

The seminar fully exchanged the rational views of scientists from China and South Africa on the issue of virus traceability, and promoted the people of both sides, especially experts in the field of health, to objectively and fairly understand the new crown virus and epidemic prevention and control work. Scientists from both sides agreed that both China and South Africa have shown a positive attitude in responding to the epidemic, established a good prevention and control mechanism, and full communication and science publicity can effectively expose various lies about the new crown pneumonia epidemic, especially the political rumors around the traceability of the new crown virus, and effectively eliminate the public's misunderstanding of the new crown pneumonia epidemic. Everything starts from science, and global solidarity and cooperation can benefit all mankind.

Source: Science and Technology Daily