UPDATE: The WHO on Thursday declined to categorize the coronavirus sweeping across China as a global health emergency. Hours after the decision was made, China announced that eight more people had died from the virus, bringing the number to 25.
The World Health Organization on Thursday declined to categorize the coronavirus sweeping across China as a global health emergency, saying there is no evidence of human-to-human infection outside China.
Chinese authorities Thursday moved to lock down at least three cities with a combined population of more than 18 million in an unprecedented effort to contain the virus during the busy Lunar New Year travel period. "The advice to the director-general provided by the emergency committee is that now is not the time," Houssin said."It's too early."
"This should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious or that we’re not taking it seriously," Tedros said.In the USA, airports in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and San Francisco stepped up health checks for passengers arriving from China. Fauci compared the outbreak with severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, a coronavirus that killed more than 600 people across mainland China and Hong Kong along with more than 100 other people around the world in 2002-2003. Fauci said a vaccine was developed for SARS but was not needed.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mystery Coronavirus from China: What to KnowA new virus, known as a coronavirus, has now officially killed six and sickened more than 400, including a man in the U.S. -- though it is likely to have infected many more.
Read more »
Everything you need to know as the China coronavirus spreadsHow big is the threat posed by the new coronavirus from China? Here's a look at what experts know as the outbreak spreads.
Read more »
4 things to know about the China coronavirus4 things to know about the coronavirus outbreak: – The virus isn’t ‘brand new’, but the public health risk is a mystery – We still don’t know how easy it is to catch the virus – Hospitals are preparing for new cases – Widespread travel bans are unlikely
Read more »
China locks down cities to curb new coronavirusBeijing locks down some 20 million people in several cities to contain the disease, preventing planes and trains from leaving in an unprecedented move that health experts say is 'new to science.'
Read more »