我宣布此次新型冠状病毒在全球爆发，成为国际关注的突发公共卫生事件。做出这一声明的主要原因不是因为它发生在中国，而是因为它正在其他国家发生。

从许多方面来看，中国正在建立应对疫情的新标准。我们最大的担心是这种病毒可能会传播到卫生系统较弱、无法应对本次疫情的国家。

——谭德塞博士

世界卫生组织总干事根据《国际卫生条例》召集突发事件委员会，并就新型冠状病毒疫情发表声明（2019-nCoV）：

在座及在线的各位，晚上好。过去的几周内，我们目睹了一种未知病原体的出现，并且已经升级成空前的疫情，同时疫情也得到了前所未有的应对。正如我从北京回来以后反复说过的那样，中国政府为遏制疫情采取的非同寻常的措施值得赞扬，尽管它们对中国人民造成了严重的社会和经济影响。如果不是中国政府的努力以及他们在保护自己的人民和世界人民方面所取得的进展，那么，我们现在可能会看到在中国境外发生更多的病例，甚至死亡病例。中国发现疫情、分离病毒、测序基因组并与世界卫生组织和全世界共享的速度令人印象深刻，这是无法用语言形容的。中国对透明度及支持其他国家的承诺也是如此。实际上，中国正从各个方面制定应对疫情的新标准。这一点也不夸张。我还要对成千上万的勇敢的卫生专业人员和所有前线工作人员表示深切的敬意和谢意，他们在春节期间全天候24/7治疗病人、挽救生命、努力控制本次疫情的爆发。由于他们的努力，迄今为止，世界其他地区的病例数量仍然相对较少。目前，在除中国以外的18个国家发现了98例新型冠状病毒感染病例，在德国、日本、越南和美利坚合众国这四个国家发生了8例人传人病例。到目前为止，除中国外，我们还没有发现其他任何国家出现死亡病例，对此，我们所有人都应该表示感谢。尽管与中国的病例数相比，这些数字仍然相对较小，但我们现在必须共同采取行动，限制病毒的进一步传播。中国境外的大多数发病病例都有武汉旅行史或与有武汉旅行史的人接触过。如果这种病毒在卫生系统较弱的国家蔓延，我们不知道会带来什么样的损失。我们现在必须采取行动，帮助各国准备应对这种可能性。出于以上这些原因，我宣布由于新型冠状病毒在全球的爆发，其成为引起国际关注的突发公共卫生事件。作出这一声明的主要原因不是因为它发生在中国，而是因为它也正在其他国家发生。我们最担心的是，该病毒可能会传播到卫生系统较弱、无法应对该病毒的国家。我要明确一点：这项声明不表示我对中国没有信心。相反，世卫组织始终相信中国有能力控制此次疫情。大家都知道，几天前，我还在中国，与中国领导人会面。我离开中国时，绝对相信中国对透明度以及对保护世界人民的承诺。对于所有受到本次疫情影响的中国人民和世界各地的其他人，我们希望您知道全世界与您同在。我们正在与国家和国际公共卫生合作伙伴共同努力，以尽快控制本次疫情。目前，总共有7834例确诊病例，其中，中国7736例，几乎占全球所有报告病例的99%。在本次疫情中，有170人丧生，这些人都在中国。我们必须记住，这是死去的人，而不是一个简单的数字。比宣布公共卫生紧急状态更重要的是，紧急事件委员会就预防病毒传播和确保采取有节制的、基于证据的应对措施提出的建议。我将这些建议总结为7个关键领域。首先，尚无理由采取不必要的措施干涉国际间的旅行和贸易。世卫组织不建议限制贸易和人员流动。我们呼吁所有国家执行基于证据并且一致的决定。世卫组织随时准备向正在考虑采取何种措施的任何国家提供建议。第二，我们必须支持医疗体系比较薄弱的国家。第三，加快疫苗、治疗学和诊断学的进展。第四，打击谣言和错误信息的传播。第五，审查准备计划，确定差距并评估为确定、隔离和护理病例以及预防传播所需的资源。第六，与世卫组织和全世界分享数据、知识和经验。第七，我们战胜这场疫情的唯一途径是所有国家本着团结与合作的精神共同努力。我们都身在其中，我们唯有团结一致阻止它。此时此刻，我们需要的是事实，而不是恐惧。此时此刻，我们需要的是科学，而不是谣言。此时此刻，我们需要的是团结，而不是耻辱。谢谢！

以下为声明原文：

Good evening to everyone in the room, and to everyone online.

Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed the emergence of a previously unknown pathogen, which has escalated into an unprecedented outbreak, and which has been met by an unprecedented response.

As I have said repeatedly since my return from Beijing, the Chinese government is to be congratulated for the extraordinary measures it has taken to contain the outbreak, despite the severe social and economic impact those measures are having on the Chinese people.

We would have seen many more cases outside China by now – and probably deaths – if it were not for the government’s efforts, and the progress they have made to protect their own people and the people of the world.

The speed with which China detected the outbreak, isolated the virus, sequenced the genome and shared it with WHO and the world are very impressive, and beyond words. So is China’s commitment to transparency and to supporting other countries.

In many ways, China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response. It’s not an exaggeration.

I also offer my profound respect and thanks to the thousands of brave health professionals and all frontline responders, who in the midst of the Spring Festival, are working 24/7 to treat the sick, save lives and bring this outbreak under control.

Thanks to their efforts, the number of cases in the rest of the world so far has remained relatively small.

There are now 98 cases in 18 countries outside China, including 8 cases of human-to-human transmission in four countries: Germany, Japan, Viet Nam and the United States of America.

So far we have not seen any deaths outside China, for which we must all be grateful. Although these numbers are still relatively small compared to the number of cases in China, we must all act together now to limit further spread.

The vast majority of cases outside China have a travel history to Wuhan, or contact with someone with a travel history to Wuhan.

We don’t know what sort of damage this virus could do if it were to spread in a country with a weaker health system.

We must act now to help countries prepare for that possibility.

For all of these reasons, I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern over the global outbreak of novel coronavirus.

The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries.

Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it.

Let me be clear: this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China. On the contrary, WHO continues to have confidence in China’s capacity to control the outbreak.

As you know, I was in China just a few days ago, where I met with President Xi Jinping. I left in absolutely no doubt about China’s commitment to transparency, and to protecting the world’s people.

To the people of China and to all of those around the world who have been affected by this outbreak, we want you to know that the world stands with you.

We are working diligently with national and international public health partners to bring this outbreak under control as fast as possible.

In total, there are now 7834 confirmed cases, including 7736 in China, representing almost 99% of all reported cases worldwide. 170 people have lost their lives to this outbreak, all of them in China.

We must remember that these are people, not numbers.

More important than the declaration of a public health emergency are the committee’s recommendations for preventing the spread of the virus and ensuring a measured and evidence-based response.

I would like to summarize those recommendations in seven key areas.

First, there is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade. WHO doesn’t recommend limiting trade and movement.

We call on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based and consistent. WHO stands ready to provide advice to any country that is considering which measures to take.

Second, we must support countries with weaker health systems.

Third, accelerate the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

Fourth, combat the spread of rumours and misinformation.

Fifth, review preparedness plans, identify gaps and evaluate the resources needed to identify, isolate and care for cases, and prevent transmission.

Sixth, share data, knowledge and experience with WHO and the world.

And seventh, the only way we will defeat this outbreak is for all countries to work together in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. We are all in this together, and we can only stop it together.

This is the time for facts, not fear.

This is the time for science, not rumours.

This is the time for solidarity, not stigma.

Thank you.