Former WHO chief on coronavirus outbreak: China's prevention efforts earning global compliments

"This is a scientific judgment, a prudent and reasonable decision, with the aim to better control the epidemic and prevent it from spreading around the world," said Margaret Chan, former director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), on Friday after the world's top health advisory body deemed the coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Chan noted that China's performance is receiving compliments from all over the world.

Quoting WHO's current director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Chan praised the transparency and speed of China's epidemic control.

Chan stressed that the top priority right now is to effectively implement the existing prevention and control measures.