Who declares the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the international authority responsible for declaring a global pandemic. The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020.
The WHO uses a set of criteria to determine whether a disease outbreak is a pandemic, which includes:
- The disease must be caused by a new or unusual agent (in this case, the SARS-CoV-2 virus).
- The disease must spread across multiple countries or regions.
- The disease must cause significant illness or death.
- The disease must be capable of spreading from person to person.
On January 30, 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), which is a step below a pandemic declaration. This declaration was made due to the rapid spread of the virus across multiple countries and the potential for further international spread.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO Director-General declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, citing the rapid spread of the virus to over 100 countries, the high number of cases and deaths, and the significant impact on global health systems.
The WHO's pandemic declaration is based on scientific evidence and is made in consultation with international health experts, governments, and other stakeholders. The declaration is intended to raise awareness of the outbreak, mobilize international action, and coordinate global efforts to combat the pandemic.