As virulent new Covid-19 strains continue to ravage the world, a draft copy of a joint WHO-China report now concludes that the pandemic likely began with animal to human transmission, while deeming U.S. intelligence officials’ claims that the virus could’ve accidentally leaked from a virology lab to be ‘extremely unlikely’ without ruling them out entirely.

The report follows an investigation marred by Chinese officials’ repeated delays, with Beijing securing veto rights over the research team’s appointees and the right to review and amend the final report’s findings.