W.H.O. Declares Global Emergency as Wuhan Coronavirus Spreads

The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency on Thursday when the coronavirus epidemic spread far beyond China, where it emerged last month.

The measure reversed the organization's decision only a week ago to delay this declaration. Since then, there have been thousands of new cases in China and clear evidence of person-to-person transmission in many other countries, including the United States.

All this justified a review by the W.H.O.'s emergency committee, authorities said.

The statement now comes, he said, for fear that coronavirus could reach countries with weak health systems, where it could go crazy, potentially infecting millions of people and killing thousands.

The statement "is not a vote of no confidence in China," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, CEO of W.H.O. "On the contrary, the W.H.O. continues to rely on China's ability to control the outbreak."

Following the statement, the State Department warned travelers to avoid China completely on Thursday night.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the country "has full confidence and is able to win the battle against this epidemic."

In a statement on the ministry's website, he added that China was willing to continue working with the W.H.O. and other countries to safeguard public health.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted the worrying spread of the virus among people outside China.

"The main reason for this statement is not due to what is happening in China, but to what is happening in other countries," he said.

"This statement is not a vote of no confidence in China," he said. "On the contrary, WHO continues to rely on China's ability to control the epidemic."

"Our biggest concern is the possibility that this virus will spread to countries with weaker health systems that are not prepared to deal with it."

Hua Chunying, a ministry spokesman, also said that China will continue to work with the WHO and other countries to maintain global and regional public health security.

In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Beijing had the confidence and ability to win the war against the outbreak. A global emergency declaration generally brings more money and resources, but it can also encourage nervous governments to limit travel and trade to the affected countries.

Following numerous airlines canceling flights to China and several airlines temporarily closed hundreds of stores, Tedros said that WHO does not recommend limiting travel or trade in China.

Wuhan, China Medical personnel in protective suits treat a patient with pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan, Hubei Province

Meanwhile, Russia has announced that it would close its 2,600-mile (4,180-kilometer) border with China, joining Mongolia and North Korea to prevent crossings to protect against a new viral outbreak.

"There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with travel and international trade," "During my discussion with the president and other officials, they are willing to support countries with weaker health systems with all they can," said Tedros.

This is due to the "practical difficulties that citizens of Hubei, especially those of Wuhan, have faced abroad," said Hua of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It had actually been closed due to the Lunar New Year holidays, but Russian authorities said the closure would last until March 1. In another development, Beijing announced on Friday that it will send charter planes to bring Hubei citizens back abroad "as soon as possible".

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