Covid-19 Outbreak Live Updates And Today's Report From The World Health Organization -- News Updates February 28, 2020

Daily Mail: 'The world is not ready': Odds of a pandemic have doubled to 40 percent as WHO raises global coronavirus threat level to 'very high' and warns at-risk people who are over 65 or sick to avoid crowds

* The World Health Organization said Friday that the threat of the coronavirus's impact and spread is now 'very high' worldwide
* It's the group's highest risk level and comes as the virus spreads to more than 50 countries worldwide, sickening more than 83,000 people
* So far, nearly 2,900 people have died and several countries reported their first cases this week
* WHO officials said that there is a worldwide strain on protective gear and masks supplies
* Strategy has shifted form containment to mitigation in some countries
* Officials said that health systems around the world are 'not ready' to handle the outbreak
* They stopped short of labeling coronavirus a pandemic but said if it was flu, it would be considered at pandemic levels
* People anywhere with underlying conditions or who are over 65 are at risk of the virus, and might consider avoiding crowds, officials said
* A Moody's Analytics report estimated that the odds of a coronavirus pandemic have now doubled to 40%

The risk of coronavirus is now 'very high' worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Friday.

Even 'quite sophisticated countries...are having quite a bit of trouble' containing its spread, said Dr Mike Ryan, who heads up the WHO's emergency response efforts said during the press briefing.

Of the world's 195 countries, at least 53 have reported cases of coronavirus, or COVID-19, which has now sickened more than 83,000 people worldwide and killed nearly 2,900 globally.

The international agency hasn't quite given up on containing the virus, but is deeply concerned by the rapid spread of infections in places like Italy, in spite of its well-developed health system.

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Live Updates And Today's Report From The World Health Organization -- News Updates February 28, 2020

WHO raises global risk of coronavirus from 'high' to 'very high' -- Reuters
'The world is not ready': Odds of a pandemic have doubled to 40 percent as WHO raises global coronavirus threat level to 'very high' and warns at-risk people who are over 65 or sick to avoid crowds -- Daily Mail
WHO upgrades global risk of coronavirus spread to maximum level -- France 24
Coronavirus outbreak 'getting bigger', says WHO, warning of spread worldwide -- Reuters
WHO raises coronavirus threat assessment to its highest level: ‘Wake up. Get ready. This virus may be on its way’ -- CNBC
WHO raises global virus risk to maximum level -- AFP
Coronavirus updates: WHO upgrades global virus spread risk to 'very high' -- DW
WHO: global community not ready to take same measures as China to contain coronavirus -- Reuters
More countries infected with COVID-19 as WHO warns it has 'pandemic potential' -- UPI
Nations increasingly fearful of coronavirus pandemic and resulting global recession -- France 24
Financial pain deepens as nearly 60 countries report virus -- AP
Fears of pandemic stoked as more countries confirm COVID-19 cases -- UPI
U.N. chief says window for containment of coronavirus narrowing -- Reuters