OREANDA-NEWS. The World Health Organization (WHO) has given a new name to the coronavirus, formerly known as 2019-nCoV. This was stated at a briefing by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

In accordance with the organization’s decision, the virus was called COVID-19, which is an abbreviation for the words Corona Virus Disease, it also indicates the year of its discovery. Ghebreyesus noted that, in accordance with WHO principles, “we had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease”. “Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing. It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks,” he explained.

Ghebreyesus also reported the latest information on the number of infected people: 42,708 cases in China and 393 in 24 other countries. The total number of victims of the virus is estimated at 1,018.