The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the new coronavirus (COVID-19) as a PANDEMIC.
In a media briefing by WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, has officially labelled the disease following thousands of infections all over the world.
So far, 118,000 cases has been reported globally in 114 countries. Among these cases, more than 90 percent of them are are in 4 countries – where 2 countries, China and Republic of Korea – have significantly declining epidemics.
81 countries have not reported any cases, and 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less.
Below is a Tweet of the said declaration:
? BREAKING ?
“We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic”-@DrTedros #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/JqdsM2051A
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
The full briefing on #COVID19 by @DrTedros ? https://t.co/dRwxvdxILJ pic.twitter.com/n3KVBggZXD
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
Dr. Tedros further added that the term ‘pandemic’ should not be taken lightly or carelessly and that the world has not seen a pandemic sparked by coronavirus.
“We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a #coronavirus.
And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time.
WHO has been in full response mode since we were notified of the first cases”-@DrTedros #COVID19
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
Dr. Tedros calls on countries to activate and scale up emergency response mechanisms and communicate with people about the risks and how they can protect themselves. He also added to find, isolate, test & treat every COVID-19 cases and trace every contact.
Below is a Tweet from WHOL
“I remind all countries that we are calling on you to (1):
-activate & scale up your emergency response mechanisms
-communicate with your people about the risks & how they can protect themselves
-find, isolate, test & treat every #COVID19 case & trace every contact”-@DrTedros— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020