WHO: World may need to brace for potential Covid-19 pandemic

South Korea's President Moon Jae-in (left) getting briefed during his visit to a medical center in Daegu, South Korea, on Tuesday (Feb 25). Fresh deaths and a surge in new coronavirus cases in Iran, Japan and South Korea on Tuesday (Feb 25) fuelled fears of a Covid-19 pandemic, as the disease took root in some of the world's poorest -- and worst-equipped -- countries. - Reuters

BEIJING: Fresh deaths and a surge in new coronavirus cases in Iran, Japan and South Korea on Tuesday (Feb 25) fuelled fears of a Covid-19 pandemic, as the disease took root in some of the world's poorest -- and worst-equipped -- countries.

The rapid spread abroad came as the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that the epidemic had peaked at its epicentre in China, where it has killed more than 2,600 people and infected over 77,000 others.