The only reason why the closest related coronavirus besides RaTG13 was found in Laos is due to the fact no researchers are allowed to sample any caves in Yunnan

The only reason why the closest related coronavirus besides RaTG13 was found in Laos is due to the fact no researchers are allowed to sample any caves in Yunnan china due to government ban. And all research done by Chinese scientists must be reviewed and approved prior to publishing. One thing I wish could be shared would be the formally publicly accessible viral database the lab had taken down in September of 2019 and refuses to share with anyone even scientists behind closed doors. Right now RaTG13 is the only known virus closest to SARS-COV-2 but no one is allowed to check and verify.