WHO increases global risk for coronavirus to 'very high'

The World Health Organization on Friday increased its global risk assessment for the deadly coronavirus to “very high,” amid a growing number of confirmed cases and countries reporting them.  

“The continued increase in the number of cases, and the number of affected countries over the last few days, are clearly of concern,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the organization’s director general, said Friday in Geneva. 

He said 49 countries are now reporting cases of the virus -- with Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Nigeria having reported first cases starting Thursday.

However, he said that in the past 24 hours, China, where the virus started, has reported the fewest number of cases in more than a month, 329.

Ghebreyesus said the “very high” assessment is for the risk of the virus spreading and for its global impact. 

Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s health emergencies program, said the organization isn’t trying to scare the public by increasing the threat level, but officials should heed the warning.

“This is a reality check for every government on the planet: Wake up. Get ready," he said, according to CNBC. “This virus may be on its way and you need to be ready. You have a duty to your citizens, you have a duty to the world to be ready.”