Covid-19 not connected to bats, Israeli biologists say

Although I fully agree with the sentiment that bats are very interesting animals that should be fully protected, the article provides no evidence that COVID-19 is not descended from a bat virus. After all it is closely related to SARS, for which the accepted theory is that it descended from a bat virus via an intermediary host.

> not connected to bats

> However, Weinberg believes it is possible that a scientist who ventured deep into China’s wild to collect virus samples may have unwittingly unleashed it. “As long as we maintain distance from bats and allow them to remain in their secluded natural habitats … then we won’t expose ourselves to pathogens for which we have no defense,” she stressed.

so which is it?

Also, based on what has also been observed with SARS the theory isn't necessarily bat->human, but bat -> raccoon dog -> human, where a random contact chain is more likely.