The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the pandemic due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) given the considerable number of cases around the world, which has multiplied by 13 outside China.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, stated at a press conference that he has been evaluating the outbreak throughout the day of Wednesday, March 11: alarming inaction. Therefore, we have assessed that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic ”.
In addition, the WHO secretary general has declared that it is the first time that a pandemic caused by a coronavirus has been seen: “We have never before seen that it can be controlled at the same time,” he said. The expert recalled that 90% of the cases are concentrated in four countries: China, Italy, Iran and South Korea. China and South Korea are already seeing a reduction in the daily rate of the disease. As for Spain, it is the fifth country with the most infections in the world, with 2 174 confirmed cases at the time of writing this article.
What does the new pandemic situation imply?
The WHO has recalled that the evaluation that is being carried out on the “threat” is not modified, nor will preventive measures or recommendations.
Instead, the WHO has addressed all countries, asking for their collaboration “to detect, test, treat, isolate, track and raise awareness in society to take the necessary preventive measures.” In addition, he stressed that countries with community transmission or with large foci of the disease can change the course of the evolution of the new coronavirus. Finally, the WHO has asked countries to activate and expand their response mechanisms against the coronavirus and inform society of the risks and how to protect themselves.
“This is not just a public health crisis, it is a crisis that will affect all sectors, so each sector and each individual must participate in the fight,” he continued. “We are in this together, to calmly do the right things and protect the citizens of the world. It is feasible ”, he concluded.
Why now and not before?
A pandemic occurs when a new virus spreads around the world and most people have no immunity against it. The main differences between epidemic and pandemic are the geographical location and the number of cases, with higher proportions in the case of the pandemic.
WHO has taken 3 months to declare the pandemic. Why now and not before? Experts such as Daniel Orts, a preventive doctor, believe that the reason may derive from the intention that each country apply the most appropriate measures, adapted to its circumstances, to apply the containment of the new coronavirus. However, the WHO has decided to make this community effort official at the global level.
