-The Lancet letter published in March 2020 called claims that Covid-19 originated in lab 'conspiracy theories'

-It was signed by 27 scientists from across the globe working in virology and other medical science fields

-The widely-read letter effectively ended all debate about origins of the global coronavirus pandemic

-Investigation by The Telegraph has found 26 out of 27 had connections to China's Wuhan Institute of Virology

Of the 27 scientists who wrote a letter in The Lancet medical journal dismissing the possibility that Covid-19 originated from a Wuhan lab, 26 have links to its Chinese researchers, their colleagues or its benefactors, a new investigation has revealed.

On March 7 last year, the influential journal published the letter in which the 27 scientists said they 'strongly condemned conspiracy theories' surrounding the origins of the coronavirus pandemic that has impacted all corners of the world.

All debate into whether Covid-19 had man-made origins or leaked from the lab in Wuhan - the Chinese city that was ground-zero for the virus - was effectively shut down by the letter.