Pandemic COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, making it the first time in history that a coronavirus caused such an event. A pandemic is the global outbreak of a disease; pandemics are usually classified as epidemics first, which is when a disease is spreading rapidly in a particular area or region. According to a statement posted by the WHO’s director-general on March 11, the decision to call the coronavirus a pandemic was made because “we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction.” At the time of the announcement, the virus had spread into six continents and more than 100 countries.
Special Thanks
- René Najera, DrPH. Senior Epidemiologist
- Dr. Ralph J. DiClemente, Chair NYU School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Dr Neurofourier
- Puneet Singh, PKS Law Group
- Dr Maureen Miller, PhD, Epidemiologist, Columbia University
- Dr John Mattison, Arsenal Capital Partners
- Edward Nirenberg
- Resolve to Save Lives
- X-Prize
- Robert Holdheim
- Vivienne Ming, Socos Lab
- Natalie Sarkic-Todd, TheBattleground.eu
- Jeff Chertack, Gates Foundation
- Mrigank Shail MD, WHO
- Dr Obinna Onyekwena, Global Fund
- Dr. Glennis Mehra, Biolabs@NYULangone
- Jane Sloan, Asia Foundation
- Pandemic Action Network
- Simon Lester, World Trade Law
- Jas Charanjiva
- Reuben Abraham, IDFC
Covidpedia Labs offers public health information on the COVID 19 pandemic for your general knowledge. This information does not replace written law or professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is intended to raise awareness on COVID-19 for public use and consumption. If you have questions from the information you have read on this site regarding a medical condition, access to medicine and/or vaccines, always seek the professional advice of a doctor or other qualified health professionals. All copyrighted content is labeled. If you’d like to share copyrighted content, contact the owner of that material.