WHO "COVID-19, Not a Global Pandemic but Preparedness Needed"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The World Health Organization (WHO) stated on the 24th (local time) that it does not consider the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) to be a "pandemic" (global outbreak).

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the day, "The sudden increase in cases in Italy, Iran, and Korea is very concerning," adding, "There is much speculation about whether this increase means that the epidemic has now become a pandemic."

He pointed out, "WHO has already declared the highest level of alert, the 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern' (PHEIC), and we are not seeing unlimited global spread or large-scale severe illness and deaths from COVID-19."

Director-General Ghebreyesus continued, "Using the word 'pandemic' right now is not accurate and could cause fear," emphasizing, "We must focus on containment while doing everything we can to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic."

Michael Ryan, head of WHO's Emergency Response Team, also said, "It is still too early to declare a pandemic," and "We are still working to avoid that."

Despite WHO's statements, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing for the possibility of a COVID-19 pandemic. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, predicted on the 21st that "there is currently no community spread of COVID-19 in the U.S., but it is possible and likely to occur."

She explained, "The CDC's goal is to delay the time when the virus spreads in the U.S. and buy time to prepare for the possibility of a large-scale outbreak."