"Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO. "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."

The message of finding, testing, treating and isolating cases remains part of WHO's message.

"This is not just a public-health crisis," he said, reiterating his message for countries to prepare and move forward with a broad, co-ordinated response.

"This is everybody's business," he said. He encouraged countries to find and test every case, prepare hospitals and co-operate.

"Right now, the epicentre — the new China — is Europe," said Robert Redfield, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/coronavirus-who-says-covid-19-outbreak-a-pandemic-1.5493411