WHO warns warns "the virus could break out globally"

The World Health Organisation is calling for countries around the world to ramp up investments in public health solutions to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, now known as COVID-19.

A thermal sensor checks body temperatures to screen for the coronavirus at Seoul airport, Korea Source: YNA

The World Health Organization is warning there is no time for complacency as China continues to report a decline in the number of new cases of coronavirus, now known as COVID-19.

South Korea has reported its first death from the virus, as the country's total number of cases nearly doubles to more than 100.

The WHO's director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus [[TED-ross ada-nom geb-bree-aye-sos]] says the cases of COVID-19 outside China remains comparatively low, but it may not stay that way.

["With measures they [[South Korea]] can take, which is proportionate to the public health risk they have, I think the number of cases are really manageable, and I hope South Korea will do everything to contain this outbreak at this early stage."

China has reported 74,675 cases of COVID-19 to the WHO, including 2,121 deaths. Outside mainland China, there are more than 1,000 cases -- and seven deaths.