WHO asks countries to take coronavirus seriously

New Delhi : World health officials have issued a warning to the countries claiming that they are not taking coronavirus seriously; this comes after a sudden surge in the number of cases in US and Europe.

Global markets tumbled over the sudden rise in the number of coronavirus cases and its impact on the economy of the nations. So far 3300 people have been reported killed and nearly 100000 have been found positive to the deadly virus.

Cases soared in Italy, France, Greece, and Iran, while a cruise ship was held offshore in California to test passengers showing symptoms of the disease -- echoing a harrowing episode in Japan several weeks ago that saw hundreds infected on a luxury liner.

With the sudden rise in the international case, the impact can be seen majorly in the sectors - business, tourism, sports events, and schools.

Even religion is affected: The Vatican said Pope Francis may have to change his schedule, tourists have been barred from Bethlehem, and Saudi Arabia emptied Islam's holiest site in Mecca to sterilise it.

The World Health Organization warned Thursday that a "long list" of countries were not showing "the level of political commitment" needed to "match the level of the threat we all face".

"This is not a drill," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.

"This epidemic is a threat for every country, rich and poor."

He said that we need aggressive preparedness to combat the virus.

In the United States, the largest nursing union said a survey of thousands of nurses at hospitals showed "truly disturbing" results.

"They show that a large percentage of our nation's hospitals are unprepared to safely handle COVID-19," said Jane Thomason, a hygiene specialist with the union.