Further analysis of metagenomic datasets containing GD and GX pangolin CoVs indicates widespread contamination, undermining pangolin host attribution

Adrian Jones, Steven E. Massey, Daoyu Zhang +2

The only animals other than bats reported to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses (SARS2r-CoVs) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic are pangolins. In early 2020 mult…