The coronavirus is sweeping across the world, therefore today the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as a pandemic.
Dr. Tedros is the Director-General of the World Health Organization.
“We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action,” Dr. Tedros said on Twitter. “We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear.”
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"We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/JqdsM2051A
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
“As I said on Monday, just looking at the number of cases and the number of countries affected does not tell the full story,” Dr. Tedros said. “81 countries have not reported any coronavirus cases and 57 countries have reported ten cases or less. We cannot say this loudly enough, or clearly enough, or often enough: all countries can still change the course of this pandemic.”
Dr. Tedros says thousands of infected people are currently fighting for their lives in hospitals around the world.
“In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher,” Dr. Tedros said. “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.”
Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change the WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus, Dr. Tedros announced on social media.
“It doesn’t change what WHO is doing,” Dr. Tedros said. “It doesn’t change what countries should do.”
Dr. Tedros says 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,” Dr. Tedros said. “Leading to unnecessary suffering and death.”
Dr. Tedros added that, “Even those countries with community transmission or large clusters can turn the tide on this coronavirus.“
Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled, Dr. Tedros concluded.
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