SCMP: Coronavirus: WHO head warns ‘time is of the essence’ in limiting disease’s global spread
* World Health Organisation also gives the disease a name: Covid-19, for coronavirus disease of 2019
* The virus ‘is more powerful in bringing serious consequences than any terrorist attack’, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says
The World Health Organisation warned Tuesday that the opportunity to limit the international spread of the coronavirus outbreak is fading, and that if the disease isn’t contained it could wreak global havoc.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said that the virus “is more powerful in bringing serious consequences than any terrorist attack [can accomplish]”.
“It’s not just the health issue, it’s a matter of economic, political and social upheavals.”
“I remind and will continue to remind the world to take [the outbreak] really seriously. We are asking countries to be as aggressive as possible,” said Tedros. “Time is of the essence.”
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