Coronavirus declared as global emergency by WHO

The novel Coronavirus has been declared as a global emergency by the World Health Organization.

"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The Maldivian authorities confirmed that a suspected case was under quarantine in the country as a press conference earlier tonight.

Maldivian Health Minister Abdulla Ameen stated that a 20-year old Maldivian male was in quarantine in K. Funadhoo after being suspected of the virus.

The person arrived last night from Zhaoqing City, China according to the local authorities and had not exhibited any symptoms at the time of his arrival at the airport.

Ministry officials stated that this was not a confirmed case of the virus but a suspected one and the person was in quarantine as a precaution. Authorities are currently working on testing the man for the virus.

The government of Maldives suspended direct flights between the country and China today and also announced a travel advisory against traveling to China and countries where cases have been tested positive.

The travel advisory will request Maldivians to not to travel to countries from where cases for the disease have been spotted unless for emergency purposes.

The WHO said that there had been 98 cases in 18 counties outside of China, but no deaths.

WHO chief, Dr Ghebreyesus, speaking at the press conference in Geneva, described coronavirus as an "unprecedented outbreak" that has been met with an "unprecedented response" and praised China's extraordinary measures taken to prevent it from spreading.

The disease first emerged in the now closed off Chinese city of Wuhan, home to 11 million, in December 2019 but quickly spread to other areas of the country.

The virus has now spread outside of China, with cases being reported in countries including Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Australia and most recently India and Philippines. Around 170 deaths from the outbreak have so far been reported, all Chinese nationals from mainland China, with infected cases numbered at more than 7000 throughout the world.