WHO Raises Highest Alert For New Coronavirus Amid Global Spike
WHO RAISES HIGHEST ALERT – The World Health Organization had raised the highest for infectious diseases amid the global spike in COVID-19 cases.
Outside of China, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had seen an unexpected increase in number. Countries such as South Korea, Italy, and Japan are now in a critical state of containing the virus.
On Saturday, South Korea had seen its biggest spike in new cases yet with over 813 new patients confirmed with the virus. This totals the number of confirmed cases with over 3,150 infections.
Along with this, COVID-19 had already spread to previously untouched areas in recent days. According to a report from Inquirer, countries including Azerbaijan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Nigeria now have cases of the virus.
Because of this concerning trend, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated:
We have now increased our assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of COVID-19 to very high at global level
In addition, WHO executive director for health emergencies, Mike Ryan said:
We are on the highest level of alert or highest level of risk assessment in terms of spread and in terms of impact.
This is a reality check for every government on the planet: Wake up, get ready, this virus may be on its way and you need to be ready. You have a duty to your citizens, you have a duty to the world to be ready.
Meanwhile, European nations struggle to contain the outbreak as the infections were now seen in several countries. As per the report, many of the confirmed cases were linked to a virus hotspot in Northern Italy.
Following this, France had also cancelled huge events such as the Paris half-marathon after 16 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed. This brought the total number of infected in France to 73.
These measures are provisional and they will no doubt evolve. We want them to last a little, because it will allow us to contain the spread of the virus
Oliver Veran | Health Minister
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