The World Health Organisation has declared an international emergency over the new coronavirus epidemic — a decision many experts regarded as overdue, as the number of confirmed cases rose close to the total of 8,100 people worldwide who fell ill during the Sars outbreak in 2003.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said: “The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries. Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it.”

Declaring a public health emergency of international concern is an important symbolic step, signalling how seriously the world takes the epidemic of respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus nCoV. In practical terms, it becomes easier for the WHO to co-ordinate the responses of governments around the world.