The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the emergence of a new coronavirus in China a global health emergency.
Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, made this known at a press conference in Geneva.
The WHO’s emergency committee on the pandemic allegedly convened Thursday afternoon and recommended that the outbreak be designated as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, PHEIC.
The decision had been “almost unanimous,” Didier Houssin, chair of the emergency committee, said at the press conference.
“The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries,” Tedros said at the press conference.
“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. Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China. On the contrary, WHO continues to have confidence in China’s capacity to control the outbreak.”
Tedros also highlighted the emergency committee’s suggestions for controlling the outbreak, which included expediting vaccine and medication research and combating disinformation.
This is the sixth time WHO has used the name “Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” PHEIC, since it was adopted 15 years ago.
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