Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Who Declares Coronavirus a Global Health Emergency

Who Declares Coronavirus a Global Health Emergency

BEIJING - The WHO has declared the coronavirus a global health emergency as the total of infected people rose to 7,834 and 170 dead.
Speaking at a press conference, Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom praised the Chinese authorities for their quick reaction to the outbreak, saying that the disease would have spread far more rapidly and widely if not for their work in containing it.
"We would have seen many more cases outside China by now - and probably deaths - if it were not for the government's efforts," he said.
"In many ways China is setting a new standard for outbreak response - that is not an exaggeration."
Adhanom said that so far there have been no deaths outside China, although there have been 98 cases of coronavirus in 18 countries, including eight cases of human to human transmission in four coutnries, Germany, Japan, Vietnam and the U.S.
"We don't know what sort of damage this virus could do if it were to spread in a country with a weaker health system. We must prepare for that possiblity. For all of these reasons, I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern."
A Chinese tourist was found to be infected with the virus at a hospital in Lapland, according to a statement on Wednesday from Finland's National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
It said the tourist was from Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - and that a further 15 people may have been exposed.(euro news)