Navarro Falsely Links Fauci to Pandemic Origin

The exact origin of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, remains unknown. The scientific consensus has been that the virus likely originated in bats and then jumped to humans either directly or indirectly, through contact with an animal. Such zoonotic transfers have happened before with the coronaviruses responsible for SARS and MERS. Lacking proof of that transfer, however, some scientists say more investigation is needed, and that there could have been an accidental laboratory leak, either of a naturally occurring virus or a lab-enhanced one. 

The virus is indeed similar to bat coronaviruses. Researchers in  have said SARS-CoV-2 shares 96% of its genome with a bat virus. Other teams have that are , once factoring in the viral habit of exchanging chunks of genetic material. No precursor virus, however, has been identified.