The head of emergencies at the World Health Organisation has reiterated that the group believes the novel coronavirus is "natural in origin".
Dr Michael Ryan responded today to comments by US President Donald Trump, who said he has seen information that the virus may have emerged from a virology institute in China.
Ryan said WHO teams have listened "again and again" to many scientists who have looked at the gene sequences and the virus, "and we are assured that this virus is natural in origin".
Ryan said it was important to establish the natural host of the virus, which could help pave the way for a better understanding of it and ways to prevent and respond to future outbreaks.
Mr Trump suggested he was confident that China's Wuhan Institute of Virology was at the origin of the coronavirus, before again criticising WHO's early response to the outbreak.
Most scientists believe the virus emerged at a market in the Chinese city, linked to an animal that has not yet been identified.
The WHO's Emergency Committee on the COVID-19 outbreak recommended that the outbreak remains an international public health emergency, its highest level of alert.
The US state of Wyoming has allowed barbershops, nail salons, gyms and daycare centres to reopen today in its first loosening of statewide restrictions intended to slow the coronavirus' spread.
The openings come with social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines as well as limits on the number of customers allowed inside any establishment.
Schools remain closed, restaurants restricted to take-out, and gatherings restricted to 10 people or less.
Getting a haircut and shopping in person at retail stores were allowed again also in much of Colorado as the state continues to ease restrictions set up to stop the rapid spread of the coronavirus.
Stay-at-home orders remained in place in Denver and some surrounding counties, with only essential businesses like grocery, liquor and hardware stores open there.
Goodwill reopened 16 stores around Colorado with changes to protect people's safety.
Elective surgeries and curbside pickup at retail shops were allowed to begin outside the Denver area on Monday in the first wave of the relaxation of restrictions under Democratic Governor Jared Polis' "safer at home" order.
The state of Maine remains under a stay-at-home order until May 31, but residents today became entitled to restricted use of golf courses; visits to dentists, barbers and hairdressers; and drive-in religious services. Restaurants won't be allowed to open for dining in until June 1.
In New York, schools and colleges will remain shut through the end of the academic year.
The order announced today by Governor Andrew Cuomo applies to 4.2 million students statewide and continues an order that had been set to expire May 15.
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