EMAIL · 9 February 2020
[REDACTED] Assessment on coronavirus (updated)
Provenance: Six-message chain, 6–10 February 2020 · very heavily redacted, with two full pages blacked out · 7 pages.
The circulation and reissue of an early agency assessment on 2019-nCoV, together with the first sign of internal probing about whether anyone in the community held a different view of the virus’s cause.
7 Feb, 9:21 am — An assessment on 2019-nCoV published that morning is circulated, described as in line with the standing NCMI assessment.
7 Feb, 9:55 am — The assessment is to be reissued and the original recalled. The language will not change, but Text Box 2 was missing an element that will be added.
7 Feb, 9:12 am — A recipient asks that the NIC point of contact be included on coronavirus notes, and asks the substantive question: have you heard of any SMEs or "experts" outside [redacted] leaning towards a different explanation — genetically engineered and/or lab accident?
8 Feb, 1:48 am — "Yes, thanks for keeping me in the loop. I am going to be the ODNI lead coordinator on coronavirus going forward, so appreciate folks keeping me copied in."
10 Feb, 10:28 am — The reply: other than comments by at least one redacted individual, the writer is not aware of any part of the redacted body leaning towards a different explanation for the cause of the virus, and is tracking the situation.
Item 24 of the ODNI COVID-19 document release of 18 June 2026, held complete and readable in the V.A.D.E.S. archive at DEFROST.WORLD.