{"id":25297,"date":"2020-03-12T11:54:20","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T11:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ceo-na.com\/?p=25297"},"modified":"2020-03-13T21:28:16","modified_gmt":"2020-03-13T21:28:16","slug":"who-declares-the-coronavirus-outbreak-a-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/servidor-mxigen1.com\/ceona-antiguo\/business\/industry\/who-declares-the-coronavirus-outbreak-a-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"WHO declares the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

The World Health Organization (WHO)\u00a0<\/span>has officially declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, which is described as the worldwide spread of a new disease.<\/p>\n

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“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,” said Dr. Tedros\u00a0Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who has just\u00a0made the assessment that <\/span>#COVID19<\/a><\/span> can be characterized as one.<\/span><\/p>\n

As there are now over 118,000 cases of COVID-19 in 114 countries around the world, with vast consequences in Italy, South Korea, and the United States, WHO urges countries to lean on\u00a0pandemic preparedness plans\u00a0to respond to the rise of the disease.<\/p>\n

“We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear,” continued Dr. Tedros at the official announcement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“81 countries have not reported any <\/span>#COVID19<\/a><\/span> cases, and 57 countries have reported 10 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 (…) \u201cSome countries are struggling with a lack of capacity. Some countries are struggling with a lack of resources. Some countries are struggling with a lack of resolve,\u201d\u00a0sentences Dr. Tedros.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The last time the WHO declared a pandemic was during the H1N1 outbreak in 2009, The Verge reports<\/a>, which infected\u00a0nearly a quarter<\/a>\u00a0of the world\u2019s population. However, that decision was\u00a0criticized<\/a>\u00a0for creating unnecessary panic. SARS was not considered a pandemic, despite affecting people in 26 countries.<\/p>\n

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Media briefing on #COVID19<\/a> with @DrTedros<\/a>. #coronavirus<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/aPFXT3ex5y<\/a><\/p>\n

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n