Coronavirus declared pandemic by World Health Organisation

The World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement comes after more than 100,000 cases have been confirmed world wide.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, chief of World Health Organization said the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold over the past two weeks.

He said he was "deeply concerned" by "alarming levels of inaction" over the virus.

A pandemic is a disease that is spreading in multiple countries around the world at the same time.

WHO is continuing to remind all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be significantly slowed or even reversed through the implementation of robust containment and control activities.

In a statement the organisation said: “Every effort to contain the virus and slow the spread saves lives.

Coronavirus declared pandemic by World Health Organisation

“These efforts give health systems and all of society much needed time to prepare, and researchers more time to identify effective treatments and develop vaccines.

“Allowing uncontrolled spread should not be a choice of any government, as it will harm not only the citizens of that country but affect other countries as well.

“We must stop, contain, control, delay and reduce the impact of this virus at every opportunity. Every person has the capacity to contribute, to protect themselves, to protect others, whether in the home, the community, the healthcare system, the workplace or the transport system.”

It added: “We will continue to work with all countries, our partners and expert networks to coordinate the international response, develop guidance, distribute supplies, share knowledge and provide people with the information they need to protect themselves and others.”

What’s happening in Scotland?

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Scotland now stands at 36 and a total of 2,316 people have now been tested for the virus.

The Scottish Government confirmed the figures this afternoon.

The highest number of cases is in the Lothians, with eight confirmed.

Two doctors from a top Edinburgh hospital have tested positive for coronavirus after returning from Italy.

A third consultant at Murrayfield’s private Spire facility was also tested but returned a negative result.

All three travelled together to Italy for a skiing holiday.

The pair are the first confirmed cases of medics in the UK contracting the potentially deadly COVID-19 virus.

To find out more about the coronavirus in Scotland visit our live blog.