The origin of SARS-CoV-2 is kind of irrelevant, since both proposed origins could cause future pandemics and so we need to prepare for both kinds. Bump up all animal virus research to BSL4 and mitigate/reduce interaction between humans and wild animal populations.
I agree, do not understand the downvotes. What budget would evil organisation need to create dangerous virus similar to SARS-CoV-2? Is there a chance it may happen again?
I'd guess someone with the right skills could cook up a new human disease for about $10K. I might be off by a factor of ten (in either direction).
I imagine getting the balance of R value and virulence just right would be difficult; I didn't include that in my estimate.
Pandemics come along every hundred years or so, so this will happen again unless we hurry up and exterminate all mammals (humans included).
Alternatively, people could stop panicing. As pandemics go, Covid was extremely mild, and tools like contact tracing and mRNA vaccines will help us reduce the impact of the next one.
