India, Jan. 24 -- 'Neither severity, source nor extent of virus' transmission completely known yet'

The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided not to consider the coronavirus outbreak in China as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the time being on a day when four cities in China locked themselves to prevent the virus' spread.

The emergency committee on International Health Regulations announced the decision before international media in Geneva, Switzerland, on the intervening night of January 23-24, 2020, after discussing the issue for 14 hours.

"The members of the committee were sharply divided over the decision of such a declaration," Didier Houssin, the head of the emergency committee said.

"Half o...