Coronavirus declared global health emergency by World Health Organisation

The Coronavirus has officially been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organisation, as the outbreak continues to spread outside of China.

The Coronavirus has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The fears from WHO is that the virus could potentially spread to countries with weaker health systems. The death toll now stands at 170 people in China, according to the BBC. It is believed that there have been 18 instances countries outside of China, but no deaths. "The main reason is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries," said a WHO chief, making the announcement at a press conference on Thursday. Meanwhile, the HSE has said that the risk of the virus spreading to the public in Ireland remains low. In a statement issued to JOE on Thursday, the HSE said: "The criteria (as defined by the WHO) which are used to decide whether a person has contracted coronavirus, combined with increased surveillance, will lead to some individuals being triaged and/or tested as necessary from time to time."