China approved the visit by researchers under the auspices of the U.N. agency only after months of negotiations. It has not indicated whether they will be allowed to gather evidence or talk to families, saying only that the team can exchange views with Chinese scientists."I hope the WHO experts don't become a tool to spread lies," said Zhang Hai, whose father died of COVID-19 on Feb. 1, 2020, after travelling to the Chinese city of Wuhan and getting infected.
The relatives have faced immense pressure from authorities not to speak out. Officials have dismissed the lawsuits, interrogated Zhang and others repeatedly and threatened to fire relatives of those who speak to the foreign media, according to interviews with Zhang and other relatives. WHO says its visit to China is a scientific mission to investigate the origins of the virus, not an effort to assign blame, and that "in-depth interviews and reviews" of early cases are needed. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The mission was repeatedly delayed by negotiations and setbacks, one of which prompted an unusual public complaint by the WHO head.