Coronavirus has been declared a ‘global pandemic’

Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn has warned on Wednesday the coronavirus outbreak has now turned into a “global pandemic.”

Spahn said the outbreak, which has been teetering on the verge of a pandemic for many weeks, has now surpassed the level of epidemic.

Spahn told German lawmakers in the Bundestag, “The coronavirus outbreak in China has become a global pandemic.”

The Health Minister said, “The situation is changing very quickly. What’s clear is that we have not yet reached the peak of the outbreak.”

Spahn added, “The next days and weeks will be challenging.

“There will be restrictions on everyday life in affected areas and that can cause some stress.”

Germany has reported a 22% spike in cases across the country since Tuesday, rising from 196 cases to 240, Spahn warned the worst is yet to come.

The World Health Organization (WHO) have stopped short of calling it a pandemic despite the rules surrounding this says it is.

On Wednesday, Professor Neil Ferguson from Imperial College warned attempts to stop coronavirus is now “over” and has urged the ministry of health to focus on early containment.

In less than three months cases of coronavirus have spread well beyond the epicentre in Wuhan, China to more than 50 countries across the world and can no longer be stopped, Professor Neil Ferguson said.

NHS England has declared on Tuesday a level four incident which is the highest category level.

A level four emergency is defined, when “pressure in the local health and social care system continues to escalate leaving organisations unable to deliver comprehensive care.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has announced on Wednesday afternoon the UK now have 85 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

This morning there were 53 confirmed cases, and this has now soared by 32 in one day, the biggest jump so far in the UK.

Worldwide there are now more than 94,000 confirmed cases with over 3,200 deaths from coronavirus.