The International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee for COVID-19 held its first meeting on January 22 & 23, 2020 [found COVID-19 not an emergency], then 7 days later on January 30, 2020 they met again and upon the committee's advice, the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesuss declared that the novel coronavirus outbreak constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the "WHO’s highest level of alarm". [1, 3] "The Committee also acknowledged that there are still many unknowns, cases have now been reported in five WHO regions in one month, and human-to-human transmission has occurred outside Wuhan and outside China." "The Committee believes that it is still possible to interrupt virus spread, provided that countries put in place strong measures to detect disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk." "The Committee agreed that the outbreak now meets the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern." The Committee emphasized that the declaration of a PHEIC should be seen in the spirit of support and appreciation for China, its people, and the actions China has taken on the frontlines of this outbreak, with transparency, and, it is to be..
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