Updated March 6th, 2020 at 12:50 IST
WHO asks countries to take coronavirus seriously, says 'not a time for excuses'
WHO has stated that countries are not taking coronavirus seriously and are showing a severe lack of preparedness that will be needed to combat the virus.
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As the coronavirus outbreak surges across Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) officials have stated that countries are not taking the crisis seriously. Global markets continue to be severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The deadly coronavirus that has been officially named COVID-19 has infected over 98,000 people worldwide.
Impact of coronavirus felt across the globe
As per reports, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was recently quoted saying that many countries were not taking the virus seriously and that this situation was "not a drill". He further added that the need of the hour was aggressive preparedness.
"In some countries, the level of political commitment and actions do not match the level of the threat we all face.
— Global Health Strategies (@GHS)
This is not a drill.
Countries have been planning for scenarios like this for decades. Now is the time to act on those plans."
-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus
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The World Health Organisation Cheif in a recent tweet urged the international community to maintain and accelerate the measures needed to protect people and contain the coronavirus. Tedros Ghebreyesus also tweeted saying that many countries were not displaying the required political commitment and actions that is comparable to the level of threat the world is currently facing.
We're concerned that in some countries the level of political commitment & the actions that demonstrate that commitment don't match the level of the threat we all face. This is
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros)
NOT a drill
NOT the time to give up
NOT a time for excuses
This is a time for pulling out all the stops
The coronavirus and the fear it has caused around the world has not only affected international business but also affected tourism, sports events, and schools. According to reports, almost 300 million students have been sent home worldwide due to closure of schools in an effort to limit or contain the spread of the virus.
Read: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Visits IGI Airport To Take Stock Of Coronavirus Preparedness
Which China still accounts for the most number of cases owing to the fact that the virus first appeared there, but infections across the globe are rising with countries like South Korea, Iran and Italy turning into major virus hotspots.
Italy which has emerged as a major cluster for the coronavirus has the biggest outbreak in Europe and it has schools and universities to close down till March 154. Italy has 3,858 reported cases and 148 deaths due to the deadly coronavirus. Another European country, France has reported a sharp rise in cases. It now has over 400 cases and seven deaths in the country.
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Published March 6th, 2020 at 12:50 IST