WHO Experts Leave for China As Mainland Deaths Rise Above 900

China reported 97 new fatalities from the coronavirus on February 9, making Sunday the deadliest day so far. Despite efforts to contain the new virus, a total of 40,171 infections have been confirmed nationwide; roughly 6,100 cases are considered severe.

Overall deaths from the novel coronavirus have now surpassed 900 in mainland China, urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to deploy an expert team to the country to investigate the outbreak.

With ever-increasing cases being identified around the world, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes the "concerning instances" of the spread of the virus among persons who have never visited China, saying all countries should be on alert.

"The detection of a small number of cases may indicate more widespread transmission in other countries; in short, we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg," Ghebreyesus said in a series of tweets on Monday morning.

Ghebreyesus made a trip to Beijing for talks with President Xi Jinping in late January, coming back with an agreement on sending an international mission led by WHO. An advance team of experts flew into Beijing on Monday to help assess the latest outbreak. 

Other US organizations are likewise sending medical supplies to the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China, as part of US efforts to assist with the deadly disease.

“The world needs strong public-private partnerships to help contain the spread of this deadly virus and the UPS Foundation is expanding its humanitarian relief network to support our partners in providing supply-chain expertise and air transport,” said Eduardo Martinez, President of the UPS Foundation, which is also assisting in the joint effort.

President Trump announced January 29 the creation of the ‘President’s Coronavirus Task Force’ to lead the US fight against the pneumonia-like virus. The group is composed of specialists from the government and the private sector.

By Elene Dzebisashvili