WHO’s global emergency declaration: What does it mean for Malaysia?

Tourists is seen wearing the face mask at Dataran Merdeka to avoid from the novel Coronavirus infections. - AZMAN GHANI / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The World Health Organisation declaring the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) spread as a global emergency would not affect Malaysia much locally, but it allows countries to follow the WHO's leadership in taking certain measures especially on interaction with affected countries, says an infectious disease expert.

The Health Ministry’s former infectious disease national head Datuk Dr Christopher Lee said that this would include travel policies and restrictions, trade and data sharing, among others – rather than every country taking unilateral, uncoordinated measures.