A panel of scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) arrived on Thursday in Wuhan, once the epicenter of COVID-19 outbreak, to cooperate with their Chinese peers in researching on the potential origin of the novel coronavirus.
The mission is aimed at reconstructing how exactly the pandemic unfolded and how to better prepare for emerging diseases in the future.
The WHO team, transferring from Singapore, underwent throat swabs and serum antibody tests for the coronavirus at the airport. They will go through the required quarantine procedures before starting field work in Wuhan.
During the quarantine period, the WHO experts and Chinese scientists will communicate via video conference, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a media briefing on Thursday afternoon.
China will strictly enforce COVID-19 containment requirements and facilitate the WHO experts, he noted.