World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has confirmed that the coronavirus outbreak is now a pandemic after choosing not to use that description for several weeks.
A pandemic is when an infectious disease spreads easily from person to person in many parts of the world.
He said: "WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we're deeply concerned, both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that Covid-19 can be characterised as a pandemic."
But he added: "Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO's assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus. It doesn't change what WHO is doing, and it doesn't change what countries should do.
"We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear."
Updates: - The number of cases in Europe continues to rise, with more than 10,000 in Italy.
- Germany's Merkel says 60-70% of country's population could become infected
- UK chancellor unveils £30bn package to support economy, as interest rate cut
- A UK health minister, Nadine Dorries, is among 456 cases in Britain
- As spread in China slows, Beijing to quarantine all international arrivals
- There are now more than 1,000 confirmed cases in the US
- Troops will deliver food to quarantined people in New Rochelle, New York
- Google's parent company asks North American staff to work from home
Comments