WHO gives official name for novel coronavirus

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, 11 February, 2020. Photo: Xinhua

GENEVA, 11 February (BelTA - Xinhua) - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday gave the official name for the latest novel coronavirus as being Covid-19, which stands for coronavirus disease starting in 2019.

According to the WHO, the naming of the virus should avoid any stigmatizing by not referring it to any specific geographic locations, animal, individuals' names, species of animal, culture, population, industry or occupation.