Quarter of Americans Believe COVID-19 Was Lab-Grown

Over a quarter of Americans believe the COVID-19 disease was manufactured in a laboratory, according to a new survey.

In a new survey from the Pew Research Center, 29 percent of all U.S. adults believe the novel coronavirus ravaging the globe was created in a laboratory. Six percent believe it was created accidentally, while a much larger 23 percent believe it was created intentionally as a weapon. Still, a plurality of Americans (43 percent) responded that they believe the virus was created naturally. 25 percent were unsure how the COVID-19 virus was created.

Age, education and political affiliation all seemed to play roles in whether U.S. adults believed the coronavirus was created naturally or unnaturally. 27 percent of those between the ages of 18-29 believe it was created in a lab, while only 15 percent of those aged 65 or older believed the same. As far as education, 27 percent of those with a high school diploma or lower believed it was created in a lab compared to only 15 percent of those with a college degree. 30 percent of Republican respondents believe it was created in a lab compared to only 16 percent of Democrats.

Speculation surrounding a Wuhan virology laboratory have prompted some to believe the COVID-19 disease was either created or accidentally released by the Chinese government. While little proof or evidence has been provided to substantiate this conspiracy, ill sentiments toward China from Americans has prompted some to continue questioning China’s role in the creation of COVID-19.