Coronavirus is now a global pandemic, says WHO

At a press conference in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that the coronavirus is now a global pandemic.

With the Covid-19 coronavirus now affecting 121,000 cases in nearly 115 countries, the WHO says the epidemic has reached the stage of a global pandemic. 90% of these cases are located in 4 countries; China, South Korea, Iran and Italy. Two of them are experiencing a decline in the epidemic, China and South Korea. Everywhere else, the number of cases is constantly increasing and drastic measures are multiplying in many countries.

“Pandemic is not a word to be used lightly or carelessly. It is a word which, if used improperly, can cause unreasonable fear or unwarranted acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death ”, reminded the boss of the WHO in its first words.

🚨 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

States must fully engage in the fight against coronavirus

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus demands from the States a total commitment in the fight against the virus. “This is not just a public health crisis, it is a crisis that will affect all sectors – so each sector and each individual must be involved in the fight I remind all countries that we call on you to (1) activate and develop your emergency response mechanisms, (2) communicate with your staff on the risks and how they can protect themselves, (3) find, isolate, test and treat each case of COVID19 and trace each contact ”.

“We are in there together, to do the right things calmly and protect the citizens of the world. It’s doable, ”he concluded.

Find the conference in the video below: