The finding is not the result of any new intelligence. It was declassified and released Saturday on the orders of President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA.

The CIA now assesses the virus that causes Covid-19 more likely originated from an accidental lab leak in China, rather than occurring naturally, according to a statement from the agency Saturday, just days after Director John Ratcliffe took the reins.

A new analysis that began under the Biden administration is released by the C.I.A.’s new director, John Ratcliffe, who wants the agency to get “off the sidelines” in the debate.

The Central Intelligence Agency said the Covid-19 pandemic “more likely” originated from a lab leak than a natural source, shifting its stance after previously saying both scenarios were possible.

The CIA has changed its assessment on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, now favoring the lab leak theory. But some worry this could be an indication of politicization.

The Central Intelligence Agency said Saturday that it’s more likely a lab leak caused the Covid-19 pandemic than an infected animal that spread the virus to people, changing the agency’s yearslong stance that it couldn’t conclude with certainty where the pandemic started.

The assessment released Saturday points at China while acknowledging that the CIA has “low confidence” in its own conclusion.

CIA continues to assess that both research-related and natural origin scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic remain plausible.”

The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a lab. Here’s what to know about the declassified document released Saturday

The CIA says it has "low confidence" in its assessment that a "research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely."