DISINFO: The main source of the coronavirus spread was an American laboratory in Armenia
SUMMARY
The ratio of infected to the total number of citizens in Armenia exceeds the indicators of the neighboring Caucasian republics by several times. What is the reason for such a critical epidemiological situation in the country? The main source of the spread of the new coronavirus infection in Armenia was the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). In the post-Soviet republic of Armenia the USA actually acquired a dual-use controlled laboratory, military and civilian.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory about the coronavirus, based on recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about biological weapons, consistent with the Pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign against biological laboratories in Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine and other countries.
The story fits the broader set of conspiracy theories on the supposed man-made origins of various infectious diseases. There is no evidence to suggest that the novel coronavirus was manufactured inside laboratories. The virus "2019-nCoV” comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold, and viruses such as SARS and MERS. The medical Journal “Emerging Microbes & Infections” specifically said there is “No credible evidence supporting claims of the laboratory engineering.” The number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 5,5 mln globally with over 346000 deaths by 25 May 2020. Cases have been reported in more than 200 countries, territories and areas.
National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Armenia is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia. The laboratories are not American, they belong exclusively to the Republic of Armenia. No other state or state structure has an impact on its activities or governance. For further debunk read here. Many other claims have been pushed by pro-Kremlin media since the outbreak started in January, for example, that it was born in a laboratory to infect Chinese, that it is an element of hybrid warfare and that the remedy has been developed in Ukraine. More cases about alleged lab-made virus read here.