WHO Declares Coronavirus a Global Pandemic

The World Health Organization has officially declared the worldwide outbreak of the new coronavirus a "pandemic," with more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 deaths.

"'In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of COVID-19 cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher. 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. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said on Wednesday afternoon. 

"We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear," he added. 

By Ana Dumbadze 

Photo: Getty Images