Coronavirus outbreak is a pandemic, WHO says

"Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death"-@DrTedros

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

The shift to pandemic means that slowing coronavirus spread is the goal, not stopping it-- we are beyond any hope of containment, despite Donald Trump's lies.

From today's WHO briefing with Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, video embedded below:

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros. #coronavirus https://t.co/aPFXT3ex5y

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"In the past two weeks, the number of cases of #COVID19 outside has increased 13-fold & the number of affected countries has tripled.

There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, & 4,291 people have lost their lives"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"Thousands more are fighting for their lives in hospitals.

In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of #COVID19 cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher"-@DrTedros #coronavirus

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction"-@DrTedros #COVID19

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

BREAKING

"We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/JqdsM2051A