The latest WHO investigation into the origin of COVID-19 did not yield the expected results mainly because scientists did not have access to data from China. This was reported by Reuters.

As noted, the secrecy of information from the country's government was a severe blow to their years-long efforts to determine the causes of the pandemic.

The WHO expert team report says that all available data shows that COVID-19 comes from animals, probably bats, and originates probably from China. The lack of data from China has deprived scientists of the ability to determine exactly how the virus was first transmitted to humans.

WHO also states that the report is dedicated to developing methods to investigate the origin of other outbreaks.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhan Gebreisus reportedly asked the Chinese government twice for more information, but received formal and incomplete answers.

Iran's health minister said the country marked its first day, after more than two years of pandemic, without a death from COVID-19, calling it a milestone for the country, which has long had the largest number of coronavirus cases in the world.