The World Health Organisation has officially declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic, following the most recent disclosure on the virus’ global reach.
The WHO has reported that there are over 118,000 cases in 114 countries resulting in over 4000 deaths.
Director-General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom, stated in a press conference that, “Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus.
“It doesn’t change what WHO is doing, and it doesn’t change what countries should do.”
According to WHO a pandemic is used to describe a disease that has spread “over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people.”
Jamaica recorded its first case of coronavirus yesterday (March 10), bringing the total to 14 infected persons in the Caribbean.
