Here's a quote from the Lancet statement: > Scientists from multiple countries have published and analysed genomes of the causative agent, severe acute respira

Here's a quote from the Lancet statement: > Scientists from multiple countries have published and analysed genomes of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),1 and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife The person you're responding to above says that the lab has been collecting samples of SARS-like viruses from wildlife for study, and conjectures that maybe one of those escaped from the lab. That possibility is not contradicted by the statement in the Lancet.