Omicron is suspicious as fuck. The genetic distance from BA1 variant to Wuhan is so large it doesn't seem to be a descendant of that virus (they instead likely have a most recent common ancestor a few years back). The BA2 variant is distant from BA1 and Wuhan as well, most recent common ancestor estimated to be circa 2017-2018. Likely evidence that SARS-CoV-2 existed prior 2019. But with evidence also of gain-of-function stuff, who knows.
I've seen speculation that it was a white hat leak, considering these factors as well as its mildness, making it functionally superior to the pharma jabs.
Omicron is suspicious as fuck. The genetic distance from BA1 variant to Wuhan is so large it doesn't seem to be a descendant of that virus (they instead likely have a most recent common ancestor a few years back). The BA2 variant is distant from BA1 and Wuhan as well, most recent common ancestor estimated to be circa 2017-2018. Likely evidence that SARS-CoV-2 existed prior 2019. But with evidence also of gain-of-function stuff, who knows.
I've seen speculation that it was a white hat leak, considering these factors as well as its mildness, making it functionally superior to the pharma jabs.
It's so suspicious how different they both are -- its origin raises some eyebrows as well.