where did covid 19 start

COVID-19 most likely started in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. The early epicenter of the outbreak was linked to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, where many early cases were connected to wild animal sales. The first large cluster of cases appeared there in December 2019, although there is some evidence that the virus may have circulated in humans earlier. The virus is believed to have a zoonotic origin, likely from bats or another closely related mammal, possibly passing to humans through an intermediate animal host. While early cases clustered around the Huanan Market, it is unclear if it is the true first origin of the virus or just the location where the spread became noticeable. Molecular clock analysis estimates that the initial cases likely occurred between October and November 2019. The origin virus is closely related to bat coronaviruses, supporting the zoonotic origin theory.