An outbreak of disease caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-2019, has potential for a pandemic. This was stated by the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adanom Ghebreyesus, speaking on Monday at a briefing in Geneva.
According to him, now the use of the term "pandemic" does not correspond to the facts, we are talking about an epidemic in various parts of the world. WHO is not yet witnessing the rampant global spread of the new coronavirus and is not seeing a huge number of severe cases or deaths. However, the rise in the number of new cases is a cause for concern. This outbreak "has the potential for a pandemic."
Ghebreyesus urged to start preparing for a pandemic, with each country having to assess the risk itself. The WHO also expressed concern about the sharp increase in the number of cases in Italy, Iran and South Korea. On Tuesday, a group of experts from the organization will arrive in Iran to help fight COVID-2019.
Recall, an outbreak of the disease caused by the new coronavirus was recorded at the end of last year in the 12 millionth Wuhan (Hubei province). The infection has spread throughout China and beyond. Infection cases were detected in 29 countries, including Russia. As of Monday, in China, the total number of COVID-19 infected was 77, 2 thousand, 24, 7 thousand patients recovered. The number of victims increased to 2, 6 thousand.