[MichaelZuo]

If by 'animal reservoir' you mean the intermediary pangolin, or something similar, this 'reservoir' could be as small as 1 animal if it was a spontaneous mutation. Where do you get the idea that there must be a large population of such animals roaming around?

[Teever]

Wasn't the intermediate pangolin idea also discredited as exceedingly improbable relatively early in the pandemic?

[MichaelZuo]

Can you link to a source?

[Teever]

No, I can't, that's why I'm asking a question about it.

[MichaelZuo]

As far as I can tell authoritative source has ever made an on-the-record comment along those lines. But then again it's impossible to prove a negative.