WHO declares global health emergency over coronavirus

(Patria) - Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr. Tedros Adhanom declared a global health emergency over the coronavirus that broke out in China tonight, following a meeting of the Emergency Committee. The Emergency Committee unanimously made the decision based on the number of reported cases, the number of fatal cases, and the fact that some countries were unprepared.

"China is setting standards for how we can fight such cases in the future. Although we have a relatively small number of cases outside China – 98 cases in 19 countries – due to China's efforts and no deaths outside China, we are making this decision because we must act unitedly. Most cases are related to travel or contact with those who have been in contact with people who traveled to Wuhan. We are making this decision not because we have lost confidence in the Chinese authorities, because we still have great confidence in them, but because we must help countries with weaker health systems," Adhanom said at a press conference in Geneva.

The WHO Director-General also presented new data on the number of infected and deceased worldwide. According to the latest information, there are 7,834 infected, while the number of deceased has so far remained at 170 people, all within China.