WHO: COVID-19 requires 'more aggressive suppression' and is everyone's duty to the world

(Patria) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the global risk level for COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, from 'high' to 'very high'.

The virus continues to spread outside China – on Friday alone, 67 new deaths were reported in 49 countries worldwide. In France, 19 new cases were registered on Friday alone, bringing the total to 57. The French Minister of Health advises citizens to avoid handshakes, among other measures.

The first case has been registered in Mexico, and Japan will close all schools from Monday. Saudi Arabia has banned travel for Hajj to Mecca, and a woman in California has been infected without having traveled to risk zones at all.

WHO appeals to people with symptoms such as fever or cough not to travel, as this is the fastest way to transmit the viral disease.

Western governments have also introduced some new measures – Germany has introduced cards for travelers arriving from the most affected countries, and Cyprus has increased the number of police officers and medical staff at the border with the northern part.

The virus has also caused turmoil on the global economic front; a drop in the value of American stocks has been established, causing Wall Street to exit its worst week since October 2008, writes Euronews.

The annual Geneva Motor Show, traditionally held in March, has been canceled because the Swiss government has banned all public and private events involving groups of more than 1,000 people.

WHO Executive Director Mike Ryan stated at a press conference in Geneva that it is still possible to contain COVID-19 with 'more aggressive suppression', and emphasized that 'we must wake up' because we all have a 'duty to the world'.