The scientist who first published the COVID-19 virus sequence in China protested outside his lab after authorities locked him out, illustrating ongoing pressures faced by scientists studying the coronavirus in Beijing.
Zhang Yongzhen and his team were suddenly removed from their lab following his unauthorized release of the sequence in January 2020.
When Zhang tried to enter the lab recently, he was barred by guards. In response, he staged a protest outdoors in the rain, as shown in photos shared online.
The incident gained attention on Chinese social media, with Zhang expressing resolve to uphold science and truth.
The Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center stated that Zhang’s lab was closed for renovation and safety concerns, with an alternate space offered to his team.
However, Zhang argued online that they were only given an alternative location after being evicted, and the new lab did not meet safety standards for their research.
Zhang’s experience underscores China’s efforts to control information about the virus, leading to disruptions in research and collaborations.
Despite his achievements in decoding the virus and subsequent recognition, Zhang encountered setbacks, including losing his position at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and facing restrictions on collaborations.
His collaborator, Edward Holmes, described a sustained campaign against Zhang since he released the genome sequence without government approval.
