New York: Coronavirus that has so far claimed the lives of 213 people and infected over 9,000 people has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, as the outbreak continues to spread outside China.”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 WHO said there had been 98 cases in 18 other countries, but no deaths. Most cases have emerged in people who have travelled from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began.

The WHO Chief praised the “extraordinary measures” Chinese authorities had taken to prevent it from spreading and said there was no reason to limit trade or travel to China, adding: “Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China”.