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With confirmed coronavirus cases in China exceeding 9,000 with nearly 100 outside China, the WHO has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).  

It is a rare but not unprecedented decision. There have been five previous occasions when the United Nations public health agency has applied such a designation: the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic, the 2014 polio and Ebola outbreaks, the 2016 Zika virus epidemic and the 2019 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  

Does this mean that the spread of the virus is unstoppable and that China is handling the outbreak badly?  

According to Hu Linlin, the executive director of Health Policy and Management Department at the School of Public Health, Peking Union Medical College, the decision was made not because China is not doing well in curbing the spread but rather, it is based on an evaluation of the current situation and possible influence on the international society. "I think the WHO is mainly worried about how the outbreak can affect developing countries whose health systems are more delicate," Hu said.

Indeed, as WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus states, the decision is not a "vote of no confidence" in China. On the contrary, he praised the "extraordinary measures" taken by the Chinese government to contain the outbreak. Hubei province, where the outbreak started and home to nearly 60 million people, is basically in lockdown status. More national and local measures, such as delaying the Spring Festival break and instituting body temperature checks at every railway station, are also being implemented. These are not easy decisions given the potential social and economic effects, but China has shown its commitment.  

However, although China has taken what some regard as "excessive" measures, criticism regarding transparency and anti-China sentiment are on the rise internationally. Public concern among countries near China is growing, especially where confirmed cases have been reported. 

This is understandable though, given the quick spread of the virus and the fact that there is no cure yet. Fear is a natural response to the unknown. The WHO's decision also alerts other countries to take precautionary measures such as active surveillance and early detection.  

But as Tedors has said, "This is the time for solidarity, not stigma." As China mobilizes national resources to combat the outbreak, now declared a global emergency, the priority is to make a joint effort to curb the spread. Irrational panic and even mocking are the least helpful responses in this situation. A satirical cartoon that insults China's national flag and comments by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross that the outbreak could help bring jobs to America are unsympathetic at least and could only fuel racism against Chinese and do nothing to cope with the crisis.  

The WHO's statement has already emphasized that the declaration should be seen "in the spirit of support and appreciation for China." In fact, as Hu points out, the announcement means that the WHO will provide more support and guidance and pool more top scientific resources to research the virus. Assistance to countries with weaker health systems is also highlighted. All these signal an appeal for a global coordinated effort to control the spread, not a call to isolate China. Tedors has made it clear that the WHO "doesn't recommend limiting trade and movement."  

Surely, the decision will affect China's tourism industry and international trade temporarily. But Hu reckons that this is the price we have to pay as the top priority is to prevent more infections.  

After his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, Tedros said that he was "left in absolutely no doubt about China's commitment to transparency and to protecting the world's people." Hu also expressed her optimism that the disease will be overcome, given the unusual measures that China has taken. But the key, as the WHO has emphasized, is to "act together," not spread fear and rumors. 

Scriptwriter: Zhao Yuanzhen

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