COVID-19 Coronavirus Now A Pandemic In The World

Coronavirus (COVID-19) as it looks under the microscope

Photo courtesy: cdc.gov/

Map showing countries affected by
COVID - 19 virus (as of March 11, 2020)

Map courtesy: cdc.gov/

The World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations, on March 11, 2020, declared Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak a 'pandemic' (an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population). It spread to 114 countries on five continents, except Antarctica, so far. There have been 118,000 Covid-19 cases with more than 4,200 deaths.  

The WHO says Covid-19 is "a pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China, was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on December 31, 2019. On 30 January 2020, the outbreak of this disease was declared 'a Public Health Emergency of International concern on 30 January 2020."

On February 11, 2020, the WHO named the coronavirus disease "COVID-19." 

The WHO also said, "Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death."

There are different types of coronaviruses. The WHO says, "We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled, at the same time."

For details, please read the following:

• Coronavirus symptoms: What are they and how do I protect myself (March 11, 2020)
• Coronavirus: Eleven of your most popular questions answered (March 12, 2020)
• Coronavirus: what happens to people's lungs when they get Covid-19? (March 12, 2020)
• COVID-19: How long can coronavirus survive on surfaces? (March 13, 2020)
• Covid-19 is not the flu. It's worse (March 13, 2020)
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public (Advice from the WHO)
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Global Map
• Coronavirus: A visual guide to the outbreak (March 11, 2020)
• Map, chart: Updates on Coronavirus cases and deaths around world (March 11, 2020)
• Mapping the Spread of the Coronavirus Outbreak Around the U.S. and the World (March 11, 2020)
• COVID-19 Maps & visuals (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, USA)
• Here are some of the best maps tracking Coronavirus updates (March 13, 2020)
• Coronavirus: Before, after images show impact of COVID-19 on the world's top tourist spots (March 9, 2020)

(Updated on March 13, 2020)