Who or what is responsible for COVID?

https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/helioschwartsman/2022/01/deus-e-a-covid.shtml

There are some who believe the virus originated in a lab in China. There are some who believe the virus isn't real. There are some who believe the virus is real but hyped-up. 

Disease and pestilences are all a byproduct of fallen world. When man disobeyed God in the garden, he doubted God for God said "you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” As a result, man died spiritually and in time, physically.

This disease is different because if it was FABRICATED in a lab, deliberately spread, and done so with the intent of advancing a specific agenda, I would blame Satan before I blamed God. Thrown in the possibility that a "cure" was already in place and it makes the supposition that much more plausible. 

As far as omniscience, omnipotence, and benevolence not being able to co-exist in a world where evil is present...

The point is moot. For if this world, which is evil, was all there was, then God wouldn't be fair. As it turns out, this world is NOT all there is, and the NEXT world is where perfection will reign. 

The fact that God provides a realm where perfection exists is proof enough that everything that is, is indeed, the work of God, for "if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.