Chinese scientist who first shared Covid-19 genome data sparks sympathy after lab closure battle

The ordeal of the first scientist to release the Covid-19 genome sequence – who found his laboratory in Shanghai suddenly closed earlier this week – has sparked widespread sympathy on Chinese social media and also questions about the government’s treatment of the noted virologist.

Zhang Yongzhen, 59, spent two nights sleeping outside his lab in protest after he was refused entry on Sunday, with parent hospital Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre citing “renovation plans”.