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The Wuhan Institute of Virology has never engineered or leaked the novel coronavirus and no staff members have ever contracted the virus, a researcher from the institute said on Thursday.

China cannot accept the current version of the second phase investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus launched by the World Health Organization, for the plan has been compromised by political manipulation and disrespect of scientific facts, Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission, said at a news briefing on Thursday. 

Four areas in the city of Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, where nine airport workers tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, heightened their COVID-19 risk levels from low to medium on Wednesday, according to the municipal government. 

China hopes that the World Health Organization (WHO) will adhere to the spirit of science, professionalism and objectivity, and work with the international community to maintain the scientific and serious nature of COVID-19 origin tracing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Monday. 

Worsening relations with China could hurt the recovery of Australia's tourism industry, a researcher of Edith Cowan University in Perth has warned.