World Health Organization officially calls COVID-19 a “pandemic”

It’s official — the coronavirus outbreak is officially a pandemic.

The World Health Organization made that announcement early Wednesday afternoon.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted there are now more than 118,000 cases of COVID-19 across the globe in 114 countries, with over 4,200 deaths. He expects those numbers — all of them — to increase.

“We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action,” Tedros said. “We have rung the bell loud and clear. All countries can still change the course of this pandemic. “If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response.”

Another stern warning from the WHO: areas that do not try to suppress will see their health systems overwhelmed.

As a reminder, No cases have been confirmed in Osceola County, and we should live as normal with the usual, smart precautions: wash hands regularly, clean and disinfect surfaces touched by many people, cough or sneeze into your forearm, and be wary if you’re sick, especially if a fever over 100.3 degrees, a dry cough or trouble breathing occurs.