WHO says China virus not yet a global emergency

Organization cites limited cases outside China

20200123 coronavirus mask -- for breaking

Children wear masks to avoid infection of a new coronavirus in Hong Kong. © Reuters

ALEX FANG, Nikkei staff writer

NEW YORK -- The World Health Organization decided Thursday against declaring a global health emergency at this time over the new respiratory virus from Wuhan, China.

"Now is not the time" for an emergency declaration, said Didier Houssin, who chairs the emergency committee to discuss the novel coronavirus, in a news conference. The limited cases of the coronavirus outside China mean that there is not enough evidence to determine whether it is a global emergency, according to the organization.

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