The WHO has urged China to back sharing raw data from the earliest Covid-19 cases so the investigation into the origins of the pandemic can advance.

“The next series of studies would include a further examination of the raw data from the earliest cases and sera from potential early cases in 2019,” the World Health Organisation said in a statement on taking forward the investigation.

“Sharing raw data and giving permission for the retesting of samples ... is no different from what we encourage all countries, including China, to support so that we can advance the studies of the origins quickly and effectively.”