The intelligence agency says it has a “low confidence” in its new finding, but this is further than it has ever gone in pinpointing the origin of a virus that killed millions worldwide.

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.

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.