Coronavirus most likely originated from a lab leak, US department concludes

A lab leak is the most likely culprit for the COVID-19 respiratory illness that devastated the world, the U.S. Energy Department reportedly concluded.

Leaning on new intelligence, the department, which oversees numerous United States labs and research centers, made a judgment in "low confidence" that a lab leak is the most likely origin of the pandemic, per a classified intelligence analysis shared with the White House and Congress, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Energy Department joins the FBI in its conclusion, while four other agencies believe COVID-19 is most likely derived from natural transmission. Two agencies —...