COVID-19 bacteria. (Alberta Health Service)

By David Opinko

BREAKING: World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a “pandemic”

Mar 11, 2020 | 10:41 AM

GENEVA, SW – The World Health Organization (WHO) says the COVID-19 outbreak has become a pandemic.

Its director-general says the virus that causes the respiratory illness can still be fought, but some countries are struggling with a lack of resources and some with a lack of resolve.

The assessment comes as Italy is weighing even tighter restrictions on daily life and has announced billions in financial relief to cushion economic shocks from the coronavirus.

Premier Giuseppe Conte says he will consider requests to toughen an already extraordinary lockdown.

The hardest-hit region of Lombardy is pushing for a shutdown of nonessential businesses and public transportation on top of travel and social restrictions.

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WHO defines a pandemic as the worldwide spread of a new disease.

So far, the infection has resulted in nearly 4,300 deaths worldwide and has spread to 114 countries.

The death toll in Italy has risen to 631. In the U.S., more than 1,000 people have been infected.

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More details to come.

(The Canadian Press / The Associated Press)