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2.29pm GMT
Dr Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO health emergencies programme, said that no decision is impending on the fate of the Tokyo Olympics. He said:
My understanding is no decision will be taken in the near-term regarding the future of the Olympics …
Everyone is working together to try to preserve what is a fantastic global event.
2.25pm GMT
Tedros said the WHO is now more concerned about new cases outside China, especially the “epidemics” in Iran, Italy and South Korea.
He said:
It is what’s happening in the rest of the world – that’s now our greatest concern. Outside China, there are now 3,474 cases in 44 countries and 54 deaths. We’re at a decisive point. For the past two days, the number of new cases reported in the rest of the world has exceeded the number of new cases reported in China.
#COVID19 Feb. 27, 2020 – 14:15 GMT update
Daily new cases in China (excluding Hubei province) and the rest of the world
https://t.co/lH0XPJPtBe pic.twitter.com/SfBTS0IUFf
My message to each of these countries is, this is your window of opportunity. If you act aggressively now, you can contain this virus, you can prevent people getting sick, you can save lives.