No. of Recommendations: 3
Let's assume the origin was a lab. How would that have changed anything?
As I recall, there was some issue about US funding in that lab. So, that would be my guess as to why it matters to some people.
From a practical standpoint, it doesn't change anything. It's -perhaps- an interesting academic question. But, ultimately, the same response would have occurred either way. Both good and bad responses, depending on where you were and who you ask.
At the time, I thought the response was appropriate. We didn't know much except that hospitals were overwhelmed, and they were bringing in big-rig freezer trucks to store bodies. And that it was extremely contagious. In hindsight, which is 20/20, there were things that could have been handled differently. But we didn't know that at the time, and anyone who claims they had some special insight is probably lying.
And I am writing as one who was heavily impacted at the time (e.g. 1poorlady had emergent surgery on an outpatient basis because there was no room in the hospital, and they didn't want to risk her getting this new disease...normally they would have kept her in the hospital for two or three days, minimum).
