DTMT Network
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared coronavirus as a pandemic. The cases of deadly virus have crossed 118, 000 in 114 countries. The WHO has said that 4,291 people have died of the virus so far.

According to the WHO, 90 percent of cases of corona virus cases have been reported in just four countries and two of those – China and the Republic of Korea - have significantly declining epidemics.  81 countries have not reported any cases, and 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organization (WHO), has said that in the past two weeks, the number of cases of COVID-19 outside China has increased thirteen-fold, and the number of affected countries has tripled.  

“Thousands more are fighting for their lives in hospitals. In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climbs even higher,” added Dr Ghebreyesus.

“WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic,” explained Dr Ghebreyesus.

Dr Ghebreyesus said that pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death,” he added.

“We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled, at the same time. WHO has been in full response mode since we were notified of the first cases,” informed the WHO DG.