It seems to be the case that the Wuhan CDC lab was spreading the modified virus through sheer incompetence and lack of proper procedures. Its possible they were spreading an early variant of this virus as early as 2018. Definitely by mid-2019, they were leaking the virus in earnest. There's no way in hell that China is being honest about their casualties. The CCP seems to be more obsessed with face culture than with saving lives.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10973774/coronavirus-wuhan-lab-bats-attacked/
China has ALWAYS been obsessed with "saving face", an ancient Asian culture thing. no matter how wrong/dangerous to others that behavior might be. they have that in common with trump.