  One year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the origin of SARS-CoV-2
still eludes humanity. Early publications firmly stated that the virus was of
natural origin, and the possibility that the virus might have escaped from a
lab was discarded in most subsequent publications. However, based on a
re-analysis of the initial arguments, highlighted by the current knowledge
about the virus, we show that the natural origin is not supported by conclusive
arguments, and that a lab origin cannot be formally discarded. We call for an
opening of peer-reviewed journals to a rational, evidence-based and
prejudice-free evaluation of all the reasonable hypotheses about the virus'
origin. We advocate that this debate should take place in the columns of
renowned scientific journals, rather than being left to social media and
newspapers.
