世界衛生組織總幹事譚德塞2月28日在日內瓦宣布,將新冠肺炎疫情全球風險級別由此前的「高」上調至「非常高」。他同時強調,全球仍有機會控制新冠肺炎疫情。
The World Health Organization on Friday raised the risk assessment of COVID-19 from "high" to "very high" at global level.
譚德塞在當天的例行記者會上說,過去幾天裡,全球新冠肺炎病例和受疫情影響國家的數量持續增加,這一現象顯然令人擔憂。「我們已將新冠肺炎在全球範圍的蔓延風險和影響風險評估上調至『非常高』」。
WHO is concerned over the continued increase in the number of cases and affected countries over the last few days.
譚德塞表示,幾個國家出現了相互關聯的疫情發展,但多數病例仍然可以追蹤到密切接觸者,而且並未發現病毒在社區自由傳播的證據。譚德塞強調,控制疫情的關鍵是阻斷病毒傳播鏈條。如果採取強有力的行動儘早發現病例、對病人進行隔離和護理、追蹤密切接觸者,「我們仍有機會控制這種病毒」。世界衛生組織衛生緊急項目執行主任麥可·瑞安在記者會上表示,世衛組織將新冠肺炎疫情全球風險調至最高級別,並非要製造恐慌,而是讓各國為可能到來的疫情做好準備。
"We're on the highest level of alert and risk assessment in terms of spread and impact, but that's not to alarm and scare people," he said.Instead, it's to get countries to understand that it's in their control to contain the virus."It's a reality check for every government" to wake up and get ready for the virus, Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program,said.
1月22日,世衛組織將新冠肺炎疫情全球風險評估為「高」,在地區層面也是「高」,而在中國的風險為「非常高」。