Matt Ridley: I’m Shocked by How Little the World Wants to Investigate COVID-19 Origin

Author Matt Ridley during an interview with NTD's 'British Thought Leaders' programme. (NTD)

It’s shocking how little the world thinks it appropriate to investigate the origin of COVID-19, said Matt Ridley, British science writer and former member of the House of Lords.

Speaking to NTD’s “British Thought Leaders” (BTL) programme, Ridley said the hunt for the origin of COVID-19 is a “really interesting example” of how “citizen science” stepped in when professional scientists, journalists, and spies “haven’t done a very good job of investigating this at all.”

More than three years have passed since COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, became a global pandemic, but the exact origin of the virus still remains a mystery.

One of the theories is that the virus may have escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan. The theory, once readily dismissed as a conspiracy, has gained traction in recent months after FBI Director Christopher Wray said the bureau believes it’s the most likely scenario.

The U.S. Department of Energy reportedly came to the same conclusion, while other U.S. government agencies either remain undecided or support for the theory that the virus came from animal hosts.

Ridley is one of the earlier proponents of the lab leak theory. In 2021, he co-authored the book “Viral: the search for the origin of COVID-19” with Canadian molecular biologist Alina Chan and called for a proper investigation into all theories including the lab origin.

He told BTL that it’s “good to see” some U.S. departments are taking the lab leak theory seriously.

“We haven’t come to a definitive conclusion that it definitely came from the lab,” Ridley said.

“But I do think it’s a strong likelihood that it came from a lab. And I think we need to push further on and find out much more about what happened.”

Arguing the investigations are “absolutely vital” for the prevention of another pandemic, Ridley said he had been “really rather shocked” by the lack of enthusiasm for a through investigation.

“I’ve had senior scientists say to me: It’s very important we don’t find out because the effect on the reputation of science, the effect on relations with China could be very serious. I think that’s really shocking,” Ridley stated.

Science Is Not Dogma

Ridley believes one of the “fascinating” aspects of the virus origin trace is the rise of so-called citizen science.

“Frankly, the mainstream scientists haven’t done a very good job of investigating this at all, nor have most mainstream journalists. And frankly, the espionage community hasn’t particularly done a great job either, or at least they haven’t revealed it if they have. So it’s been left to some very interesting, enthusiastic, individual amateurs to reveal some really quite vital information,” he said.

Ridley contended that while the quality of the contributions may vary, some of the amateurs have “done some spectacular” jobs “where the professional scientists and journalists have let us down.”

COVID-19 pandemic saw increased scrutiny and distrust on the role science plays in public health policies and polarising views on issues such as the origin of the virus, lockdowns, ivermectin, masks or COVID-19 vaccines.

Asked how to restore public confidence in science, Ridley said he believes science “needs to remind itself that it’s not about certainty, it’s not dogma,” and it “needs to treat ordinary people as capable of engaging in conversations like that.”

“And I think the same about the origin of the virus. This is not a question where we want scientists to just make up their mind behind closed doors, and then tell us sort of biblical truth—this is what happened and you’re not to question it,” he said.

“There is no such thing as The Science. Science is always a little bit uncertain, sometimes very uncertain about what happens and what did happen. and it needs to share that uncertainty, that doubt with the world much more and that way it'll get regained trust.”