WHO DECLARES THE CORONAVIRUS A GLOBAL EMERGENCY

The coronavirus outbreak which began in China is now a global emergency. The World Health Organization made the declaration a short while ago at a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

The WHO says “the main reason is not what is happening in China, but what is happening in other countries.” There is concern it could spread to countries with weaker health systems.

The novel coronavirus has already claimed over 170 lives and sickened thousands, mainly in China. It has spread to over a dozen other countries and led to intensified measures to prevent its cross-border spread. Full details in the ABS Evening News at 7.