The World Health Organisation has declared that the new coronavirus outbreak is a global health emergency, acknowledging that the disease represents a risk outside of China, where it emerged last month.

The declaration – officially called a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” – serves notice to all states that the world’s top health advisory body rates the situation as serious.

Countries can decide whether to close their borders, cancel flights, screen people arriving at airports or take other measures.

Alarming is that the decision came as cases have begun to appear in people who had not travelled to China during the outbreak.

Person-to-person transmission may occur if someone sick breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes near others. Respiratory droplets carrying the virus may then travel from the sick person to other people or surfaces.

More than 900 people have died in China and the number of confirmed infected cases is rising.

What should be remembered is the power of prayer and faith.

Darul Ihsan Media Desk