World in 'uncharted territory' on coronavirus
World in 'uncharted territory' on coronavirus
The world is in "uncharted territory" on the coronavirus outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.
Its chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the virus was "unique" but could possibly be contained with the proper measures.
Deaths globally have passed 3,000. Most are in China but in the last day there were nine times more new infections outside China than inside.
Dr Tedros insisted: "We are able to push this virus back". He also said stigma was more threatening than the disease itself.
The WHO chief said the development of the Covid-19 disease globally had not been a "one-way street" and may be combated if countries acted quickly and effectively - starting with containment measures.
"There is absolutely no choice but to do something now," he said.
One of the countries worst damaged outside China - Italy - on Monday saw a jump in its death toll from 34 to 52.
What else did the WHO say?
Dr Tedros's main advice was that all country had to check out their own situation as there is no one-way-fits-all method of tackling the outbreak.
"Each country will need to have its own approach nonetheless it must start with containment," he said.
This is a "unique virus with unique features" and the Who have expected wide contagion by now, but containment measures had appeared to work, the physician said.
Of the 62 countries reporting cases of infection, 38 of these had 10 or fewer, he added.
"Around eight countries have not reported new cases for two weeks and have had the opportunity to contain the outbreak," he said. China had also proven containment was possible even in countries with a sizable number of cases.
The WHO would continue steadily to monitor if the outbreak should be called a worldwide pandemic, Dr Tedros said.
South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan remain the best concern. A WHO employee has tested positive in Iran, although the symptoms are mild, Dr Tedros said.
He also added: "Stigma, to be honest, is more dangerous compared to the virus itself. Let's really underline that. Stigma is the most dangerous enemy."
What is the problem globally?
Nowadays there are almost 90,000 cases worldwide in about 70 countries, although a large proportion - slightly below 90% - stay in China, and almost all of those are in Hubei province, where in fact the virus originated late this past year.
Of the practically 8,800 cases outside China, 81% are in four countries - Iran, South Korea, Italy and Japan.
Italy raised its death toll by 18 on Monday, with 1,835 confirmed cases, the majority of them in the Lombardy and Veneto areas of the north.
Iran reported another 12 deaths, taking the full total there to 66. They included Mohammad Mirmohammadi, a high-ranking adviser to the country's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iranian media reported.
Health officials in america state of Washington said on Monday that four more people had died, bringing the total there to six. They are the only deaths in america so far.
President Donald Trump said he had told pharmaceutical companies to accelerate focus on a vaccine, while New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo, warned it was "inevitable" more people would test positive in the town.
In the united kingdom, where there are 39 confirmed cases, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the virus was "more likely to become more significant in the times and weeks ahead", after holding a gathering of the emergency Cobra committee.
Portugal, Iceland, Jordan, Tunisia, Armenia, Latvia, Senegal and Andorra also reported their first confirmed cases on Monday.
In other developments:
The European Centre for Disease Control confirmed the risk level in the EU had increased from "moderate" to "moderate to high"
The global economy could grow at its slowest rate since 2009 this season as a result of outbreak, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned. Markets had a rollercoaster ride in Europe that was primarily mirrored in NY, although the Dow Jones later ended a significant 5.1% higher. Concerns about the outbreak last week wiped a lot more than $5tn (£3.9tn) from global stocks
France confirmed another 61 more cases on Monday - 191 overall. One more death brought the country's total to three
Qatar, Ecuador, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and Ireland were among countries that confirmed their first cases over the weekend
What's happening in South Korea?
The nation on Monday reported two more deaths, taking the full total to 28.
About 60% of the country's a lot more than 4,000 confirmed cases are members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus religious sect. Members are believed to have infected each other and then travelled around the country, apparently undetected
The sect's leader, Lee Man-hee, got on his knees and bowed at a news conference to apologise.
"Although it was not intentional, many people have already been infected," said the 88-year-old leader. "We put our utmost efforts, but were unable to prevent everything."
Prosecutors in South Korea have already been asked to research Mr Lee on possible charges of gross negligence.
What's the problem in China?
China reported 42 more deaths, all in Hubei. The province has registered a lot more than 90% of the global fatalities.
Only eight of the newly reported cases of infection were outside Hubei, suggesting containment was working.
The 206 new cases reported nationwide on Sunday represented the cheapest number of daily cases since 22 January.
A spokesman from China's National Health Commission said another stop is always to "concentrate on the risks brought by the resumption of work".
