Colombo (News 1st) – The new coronavirus has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, as the outbreak continues to spread outside China. The concern is that it could spread to countries with weaker health systems.

At least 213 people have died from the virus in China. The WHO said there had been 98 cases in 18 other countries, but no deaths.

Most cases have emerged in people who have traveled from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began. However, there have been eight cases of human-to-human infection – in Germany, Japan, Vietnam, and the United States.

Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, the WHO chief described the virus as an “unprecedented outbreak” that has been met with an “unprecedented response”.

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