The novel Coronavirus, which has killed around 4,600 people all over the world, is now characterized as a pandemic.

The announcement was made by the World Health Organization.

Tedros Adhanom, the chief of WHO, said, “WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic.”

"I remind all countries that we are calling on you to (1):
-activate & scale up your emergency response mechanisms
-communicate with your people about the risks & how they can protect themselves
-find, isolate, test & treat every #COVID19 case & trace every contact"-@DrTedros

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

A disease is characterized as a pandemic when it spreads to different continents.

The coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has infected over 126,620 people all over the world.

The statement by Tedros added, “Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death. Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus.”

He continued, “We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear.”

As of writing this article, 126,620 people have been infected with the virus and it has killed 4,638 people.

It is said that 68,320 people have recovered from the deadly virus.

Italy, the worst-hit country outside China, has 12,462 cases of the virus and has 827 official deaths.

Iran, the second worst-hit country outside China, currently has 9000 cases of the virus and has confirmed 354 deaths.

India currently has 73 cases confirmed.