World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Coronavirus as a global emergency, as the death toll from the disease rises to over 170 in China.
The declaration was made on Thursday, as WHO stated that the disease now represents risk beyond China, where the virus started last month.
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WHO director-general, Tedros Ghebreyesus, in a series of tweets, said more damage could be done to countries with weaker health systems.
We don’t know what sort of damage this #2019nCoV virus could do if it were to spread in a country with a weaker health system. We must act now to help countries prepare for that possibility.
For this reason, he declared a public health emergency of international concern over the global outbreak of #2019nCoV.
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See tweets below:
I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern over the global outbreak of #2019nCoV, not because of what is happening in #China, but because of what is happening in other countries.https://t.co/HNrxyGeoBA
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 30, 2020
In many ways, #China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response. Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it. #2019nCoVhttps://t.co/GdUQZGvzkd
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 30, 2020
We must act now to help countries prepare for that possibility.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 30, 2020
This is the time for facts, not fear.
This is the time for science, not rumours.
This is the time for solidarity, not stigma.#2019nCoV https://t.co/nda2uf2ExC
