In late June, the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), a group of independent experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), published an assessment of the origins of COVID.
Undermining trust in science and public health institutions also hinders the development and uptake of life-saving vaccines and other medical interventions. This leaves us more vulnerable to future pandemics.
The amplification of conspiracy theories about the origin of COVID has promoted a dangerously flawed understanding of pandemic risk.
Koen Smits also wrote an interesting article on his Substack about The evolutionary roots of our conspiracy mindset