To counter the Corona Virus ... cooperation between Washington and Beijing after the World Health Organization declared a state of emergency

The World Health Organization announced Thursday that the outbreak of the Corona virus - which killed 212 people in China - has become a global emergency, while the number of cases worldwide has exceeded 8,100.

And the United States announced the monitoring of the first case of transmission of the new coronavirus from one person to another, and thus would be the fifth country to announce it other than China.

In the context of international attention, US President Donald Trump announced that his country was working closely with the authorities in China to confront the Corona outbreak, and expressed his belief that "the virus is under control."

Experts say cases of transmission from one person to another outside China are of particular concern, as they indicate an increased risk of the virus spreading.

The first transmission from one person to another
US health officials said the first case of transmission of the Coronavirus had been recorded from person to person in the country.

The new patient is the husband of a Chicago woman who had contracted the virus after returning last month from Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Six people have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus so far in the United States, the first five of whom are linked to their presence in China.

The new Corona virus began to circulate in an unlicensed wildlife market in Wuhan, with the number of cases worldwide exceeding 8,100, surpassing the number of SARS cases in 2003.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tiedros Adhanom, told a news conference in Geneva that the past weeks have witnessed an unprecedented outbreak and received an unprecedented response.

"To be clear, this announcement is not a vote of distrust in China," he said. "Our biggest concern is the potential transmission of the virus to countries with poor health systems."

However, the organization considered that it saw no reason to limit flights and trade with China despite the health emergency, and Adhanum said that the organization "does not recommend limiting flights, commercial exchanges and movement (of individuals), and even opposes imposing any restrictions on flights" to China.

The declaration of a global emergency leads to recommendations to all countries aimed at preventing or limiting the spread of disease across borders, while avoiding unnecessary interference in trade and travel.

The declaration includes interim recommendations for national health authorities worldwide, which include intensifying monitoring, preparedness and containment procedures.

strong hit
The rapidly spreading Corona virus crisis is expected to deal a major blow to the world's second largest economy.

The World Health Organization announcement may disappoint Beijing because it has expressed confidence in the defeat of the virus, and this may also raise concerns in the markets further, which increases the effects of damage to the Chinese economy.

"The fear is that (the WHO) will sound the alarm ... and then people will start withdrawing their money," said Pepperston's head of mediation in Melbourne, Chris Weston.

The acute respiratory infection (SARS) also came from China, killing nearly eight hundred, and costing the global economy about $ 33 billion, or 1% of global GDP in 2003.

Economists fear that the impact on global growth will be greater this time, as China now accounts for a greater share of the global economy. A Chinese economist predicted that the crisis would lead to a percentage point drop in China's growth in the first quarter.

Global stocks fell on Thursday, while the Chinese yuan hit its lowest level this year, oil prices fell again, and safe haven assets like gold rose.

Close and stop flights
Most of the deaths were in Hubei Province, whose capital is Wuhan, which has a population of about sixty million, and is currently under virtual isolation.

Google, an affiliate of Alphabet and Swedish Ikea, joined major companies that suspended operations in China, and the list of damaged sporting events expanded, as the Chinese Football Association postponed local matches in 2020, and doubts surrounding matches in qualifying for the Olympics in Australia, with the isolation of the Chinese women's soccer team in a hotel In Brisbane.

Airlines have suspended flights to China, including British Airways, Lufthansa, Ireland and American Airlines.

The Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement Thursday that EgyptAir will suspend all flights to and from China from the first Saturday of February.

On Thursday, the Moroccan airline announced a temporary suspension of its flights between Casablanca and Beijing until the end of February. In a statement, the Royal Air Maroc attributed the decision, effective from Friday, to "a strong decline in demand for Casablanca-Beijing-Casablanca flights."

Australia, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, and Indonesia decided to put all their quarantines at least two weeks even if they did not show symptoms of the disease, while the United States and Japan planned to impose voluntary isolation for shorter periods.

In South Korea, protesters used tractors to block access to facilities designated as quarantine centers in Assan and Jinshun cities on Wednesday.

The American Economy
For his part, the chief economic adviser to the US president said Thursday that the Corona virus is likely to have little effect on the US economy.

"We do not expect a significant impact on our economy," Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, told Fox Business.

Kodlow said the United States was ready to help, but added that Beijing should not expect an exemption from US tariffs.

"These are two separate things; this is completely separate from trade issues or related matters," he added.