Fauci on COVID lab leak theory: ‘I have a completely open mind about that’
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An outbreak of COVID-19 at the Connecticut State Laboratory in East Haddam has drawn the attention of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Gov. Ned Lamont, state and federal lawmakers as well as the public.
During the past several days, there have been repeated reports of what is believed to be a leak of large amounts of coronavirus RNA and other possible hazardous materials to the air, from a refrigerator in the state laboratory’s warehouse. On Friday, the state had been ordered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct an investigation.
On Monday, an employee of the Connecticut Department of Public Health issued a statement to the press that said, “We have no evidence that anyone at any point has been sick and have no indication that anyone has been exposed” to the virus.
But on Tuesday, the Lab director, Jody Hirschhorn, issued a statement saying, “I have a completely open mind about this allegation.”
Hirschhorn also said he “absolutely” believes the virus leaked from the lab to the air.
But Hirschhorn also indicated that the Connecticut Department of Public Health has been very uncooperative when it comes to helping the state address a potential outbreak of COVID-19, according to an article by Joe DeMartino of the New York Post.
DeMartino wrote in an article published on March 29:
The lab is responsible for manufacturing vaccines for some of New Haven’s largest drug suppliers. The state has not authorized its purchase orders. It is not required to make its own decisions on when and how to use the equipment, according to state regulations. The lab has repeatedly offered to work with the state to find a way to help stop a