Study provides additional insight into the origins of COVID-19

SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah has confirmed its participation in a joint study that traces the origins of the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak. 

Dr. Stephen Goldstein, a virologist with the University of Utah, said the study concludes the virus came from a market of live animals. The study results call into question another theory, that being that the outbreak came from a Chinese laboratory. 

According to Goldstein, the virus first infected humans at the market in the Huanan Province in China.

The study found that the line of transmission from animals to humans likely started in a bat. Furthermore, the study found that it likely passed through any number of livestock that were sold at the market.

The likelihood of new viral infections is low, according to Goldstein. Around 75% of infections are unsuccessful.

Goldstein says the virus had a 25% chance of continued infections after patient zero, or, the first person to be infected by a communicable disease in an outbreak of related cases.

Mark Jones contributed to this article.

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