The World Health Organization decided that the viral illness that started in China is not – yet – a global health emergency.

(Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization)  “I’m not declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern  today. As it was yesterday, the Emergency Committee was divided over whether the outbreak of the novel coronavirus represents a PHEIC or not. Make no mistake, this is though, an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one.”

The Chinese government is taking no chances in dealing with the spread of the virus. The Lunar New Year is one of the biggest holidays in China – and considered the largest annual human migration in the world. But this year, many trips are being grounded. And what is this new Coronavirus? CGTN’s Nathan King explains to us.

Panel discussion with:

• Eric Ding is an epidemiologist at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health.
• Kathryn Jacobsen is a Professor of Epidemiology at George Mason University.
• Xi Chen is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at Yale University.
• Victor Gao, joining us from Beijing, is a current affairs commentator and expert in international relations.

For More: 

China's railway operator will allow passengers to cancel their tickets nationwide without charging fees. The measure will be taken starting from Friday, as part of the efforts to control the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, said China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. pic.twitter.com/b6pFtvmL1S

— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) January 23, 2020

#UPDATE: WHO chief says #coronavirus not yet global emergency, thanking Chinese government for cooperation and transparency https://t.co/JXdWcvsPmh
S pic.twitter.com/8x9hRXaTl6

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) January 23, 2020