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Tags: pew research center | americans | lab | weapon | pandemic | wuhan | bat

Pew Poll: 39 Percent Believes Coronavirus Created in a Lab

a petri dish is held by a medical professional and marked coronavirae
(Monika Wisniewska/Dreamstime)

By    |   Monday, 13 April 2020 04:18 PM EDT

About a third of Americans believe the coronavirus originated in a lab, despite scientists concluding it likely originated in a bat before it spread to humans, CNN reports.

A new poll from Pew Research Center asked Americans where they think the coronavirus came from:

  • 43% said it came about naturally.
  • 39% said it was made in a lab.
  • 25% are not sure.

More specifically, about 23% said the virus was developed intentionally, while about 6% said the virus was made accidentally. Men and women were about evenly divided, with men slightly more likely to think the virus was natural, and women slightly more likely to be unsure.

Americans with college degrees were much less likely to think the coronavirus was created in a lab, 19% compared to 35% for those with a high school degree or less. Republicans were more likely to think the virus originated in a lab than Democrats, 37% to 21%.

The poll also found about half of American adults (48%) have heard some news or information about the coronavirus that appeared to be somewhat or completely made up, 12% said they have seen a lot of misinformation, and 35% said they have seen some. 

A study published last month in Nature Medicine concluded "analyses clearly show that SARS-CoV-2 is not a laboratory construct or a purposefully manipulated virus."

The rumor saying the virus came from a lab originated on social media, and has not been verified or supported by any credible sources, according to CNN.

Theodore Bunker

Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.

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Despite scientists concluding it likely originated in a bat before it spread to humans, about a third of Americans believe the coronavirus originated in a lab, CNN reported.
pew research center, americans, lab, weapon, pandemic, wuhan, bat
249
2020-18-13
Monday, 13 April 2020 04:18 PM
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