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WHO activates crisis management team amid CODIV-19 outbreak

Feb 12, 2020

Image: Council on Foreign Relations

The WHO has activated a UN Crisis Management team to assist them in focusing on a health response. 

It's director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says it will be hosting a meeting with over 400 scientists worldwide to discuss a course of action. 

He says, "The development of vaccines and therapeutics is one important part of the research agenda. They will take time to develop, but in the meantime, we are not defenceless. There are many basic public health interventions that are available to us now, and which can prevent infections now."  

Meanwhile, China has reported over 1,100 deaths due to the coronavirus, with now over 45,000 confirmed cases.

Malaysia reports no new CODIV-19 cases in two days

There has been no increase in the number of confirmed CODIV-19 cases in the country, in the last two days.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, says out of 550 tests, only 18 have tested positive for the coronavirus. 

Meanwhile, Dr Dzul says the ministry has taken note of the WHO's advice that Malaysia must prepare for the possibility of a wider CONVID-19 spread. 

However he adds that the virus situation in the country is still under control and remains at containment stage. 

Bank Negara Malaysia: CODIV-19 outbreak to affect 2020's 1st quarter GDP  

Image: FreeMalaysiaToday

Bank Negara Malaysia has announced the country's 2019 GDP growth is at 4.3 percent, the lowest since the 2009 financial crisis. 

Its governer says the GDP would have been higher at 4.7 percent, if were not for supply disruptionns in the commodity sector.

She adds the COVID-19 outbreak is expected to affect Malaysia's GDP growth for the first quarter of this year, depending on how the virus spreads and evolves.