GENEVA – The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday that it was “too early” to declare the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), reported Xinhua news agency.

“I am not declaring a public health emergency of international concern today. As it was yesterday, the Emergency Committee was divided over whether the outbreak of novel coronavirus represents a PHEIC or not,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference after a closed-door meeting of the Emergency Committee.