GENEVA, Mar 16 (NNN-XINHUA) – A total of 152,428 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 have been reported globally, as of Sunday, World Health Organisation (WHO) spokesperson, Fadela Chaib, said.
Among confirmed infections, 5,720 patients have died, with the number of affected countries and regions rising to 141, Chaib said.
As the virus spreads worldwide, WHO characterised COVID-19 as a “pandemic,” noting, Europe has become the epicentre of the disease.
“By calling COVID-19 a pandemic, WHO’s advice to countries and individuals doesn’t change,” the spokesperson said, stressing a comprehensive, blended approach of both containment and mitigation of COVID-19 should continue.
“To fight this new virus, there is a great need for countries to take immediate actions and scale up response to treat, detect and reduce transmission, to save people’s lives,” said Chaib.
She called on countries to ready emergency response systems, increase detection and care for patients, ensure hospitals have sufficient space, supplies and personnel, and develop life-saving medical interventions.– NNN-XINHUA
