TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, Feb. 27, warned nations that are not affected by the coronavirus to prepare for surprises. New infections are being reported around the world every day, and any country could be exposed to the COVID-19.

WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday, February 27, that no country should make the "fatal mistake" of assuming it will be spared the coronavirus.

"This virus has pandemic potential," Tedros said in Geneva as reported by Channel News Asia, Friday. Unlike an epidemic, a pandemic has a wider scale of contagion that is more difficult to control.

Separately, the World Trade Organization (WTO) asked nations to be handle the situation proportionally—not overreacting nor too relaxed about it.

As of today, there are 83,265 cases of the COVID-19 infection—over 78,000 cases in China, with 2,858 fatalities—of which 2,788 were reported deaths in China. Meanwhile, 36,436 patients have been cured.

Italy and South Korea now came under attention as both nations are seeing a rapid increase of infection rates. South Korea noted 2,022 cases with 13 deaths and Italy 650 with 17 casualties.

The Indonesian government has remained optimistic about the situation, but medical experts doubt that the nation would be spared as the virus can be asymptomatic.

The WHO urges all nations to stock up on medical supplies Iran, avoid unnecessary travel, and temporarily close public spaces and hold off big events to prevent the virus from spreading.

ISTMAN MP | CHANNEL NEWS A