It was created by Anthony Fauci and a Chinese coronavirus researcher named Shi Xhengli "the bat lady." It was paid for by US taxpayer dollars via a multiyear grant signed by Fauci. Did someone put him up to it? I have never heard anyone suggest this, let alone present such evidence.

It's absolutely being exploited and the people doing the exploiting have said so publicly and repeatedly. They see it as an opportunity to "build back better," to remake the world the way they want.