WHO describes coronavirus as pandemic

The World Health Organization said for the first time on Wednesday that it now sees the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.

The World Health Organization said for the first time on Wednesday (March 11) that it now sees the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.

Speaking in Geneva, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was "deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction".

He added: "We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic".