The World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to 'very high' which is its top level of risk assessment.

Iran PressEurope: "We have now increased our assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of COVID-19 to very high at global level," World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.

"We do not see evidence as yet that the virus is spreading freely in communities. As long as that’s the case, we still have a chance of containing this virus," he said.

"The key to containing this virus is to break the chain of transmission," he said, emphasizing the importance of individuals taking precautions to stop contagion, France 24 reported.

"Our greatest enemy is not the virus itself, it’s fear, rumors and stigma and our greatest assets are facts, reason and solidarity," he said.

Tedros also said more than 20 vaccines were in development globally and several treatments were in clinical trials with results expected in a few weeks.
According to the report, EU health ministers to hold coronavirus meeting next Friday

"EU health ministers will meet next Friday to discuss measures related to the COVID19 outbreak," a European Commission spokesman announced Friday on Twitter.

The meeting was not previously scheduled.

The last such meeting on the issue took place two weeks ago with the ministers promising to coordinate over the spreading virus. 207

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