The World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus (COVID-19), the deadly disease that has killed more than 4500 people worldwide. The organization had last declared the spread of H1N1 as pandemic disease.

"Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. 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,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.