Slack / Private Message Drop — page 285

[Kristian Andersen] Is the article still up? Eddie's link doesn't work for me... [2020-11-30 07:04:10] [Andrew Rambaut] Seems to have gone. Perhaps it was rejected from Lancet [2020-11-30 07:46:53] [Kristian Andersen] I feel like I'm missing out now... [2020-11-30 08:00:15] [Robert Garry] Maybe Trevor downloaded it since he has commented... [2020-11-30 08:53:42] [Andrew Rambaut] I had a copy downloaded... [shared file(s): SSRN-id3724275.pdf] [2020-11-30 08:57:52] [Kristian Andersen] From the abstract: "we developed a method to search the least mutated strain using SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences. By parsimony principle, the least mutated strain should be the phylogenetic root for all SARS-CoV-2s." -> Desk reject... [2020-11-30 12:18:16] [Eddie Holmes] My colleagues in China confirm that there is an active push to say that the virus originated elsewhere, particularly Italy. Very bad. [2020-11-30 12:24:07] [Eddie Holmes] NY Times are doing a story on the Chinese misinformation as well I believe. [2020-11-30 12:24:14] [Kristian Andersen] Ohhh boy - this'll not help China's standing in the world and will further fuel conspiracies. [2020-11-30 12:25:13] [Eddie Holmes] Very stupid for all the reasons you say. They are really flexing their muscles. [2020-11-30 12:27:28] [Kristian Andersen] I really don't understand this angle. If I was in their shoes I'd focus on "rapid detection", "alerted the world quickly", and "we have shown how to bring it under control". Ample space to tweak key events to fit the CCP agenda... [2020-11-30 12:28:00] [Eddie Holmes] I agree. It's a big error of judgement. [2020-11-30 12:48:34] [Robert Garry]