The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a new coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announced the decision at a press conference in Geneva.
The WHO emergency committee on the epidemic reportedly met last Thursday and recommended classifying the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). According to Didier Houssin, the chair of the committee, the decision was “almost unanimous.”
Tedros emphasized that the declaration was not based on the situation in China itself, but rather the potential risks for other countries.
“Our main concern is the possibility of the virus spreading to countries with weaker healthcare systems that are less prepared to manage it,” he stated. He also clarified, “This declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China. On the contrary, WHO continues to have full confidence in China’s ability to control the outbreak.”
Tedros also shared recommendations from the emergency committee, including the need to accelerate the development of vaccines and treatments, as well as efforts to combat misinformation.
This marks the sixth time that WHO has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) since the label was first introduced 15 years ago.
