WHO has declared the Coronavirus an international emergency

Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the Coronavirus outbreak in China has become an international concern for public health.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement after the World Health Organization's Emergency Committee meeting, which consisted of a panel of independent experts, on the outbreak of the virus spread to 18 countries.

Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, the director-general of the World Health Organization said there was no precedent for the virus that has spread in recent weeks, with reactions that are also exemplary.

"I make it clear that the purpose of this announcement is not to show distrust of China and there is no reason to ban travel to and from China," he said.

"We are most concerned about the virus spreading to countries where the system is poor," he said.

The World Health Organization Committee is headed by Deirdre Hussein of France, including 16 independent specialists.

Two times last week, experts decided not to declare an emergency, but rather they sought more information from China and certified evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus in other countries to test the standard of global emergency diagnosis.

Terming the spread of the virus as an emergency, all countries have been given suggestions to prevent and reduce the spread of the disease across the border, while avoiding unnecessary interference in commercial and travel matters.

Includes temporary suggestions for health authorities around the world, calling for improved monitoring, preparedness and prevention measures.

It should be noted that the World Health Organization could not impose sanctions on countries, but it may ask to provide scientific justification regarding the travel and trade sanctions imposed by the countries in an emergency.