CNN labels coronavirus a ‘pandemic’ — while WHO and CDC have not

CNN has opted to label the coronavirus outbreak as a “pandemic” as of March 9, 2020, despite the World Health Organization declining to do so as of that time.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also not labeled it as a pandemic as of the time CNN switched to using the term.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the network’s medical correspondent, appeared on “New Day” to discuss the nomenclature — noting that the some define a pandemic as a “virus that can cause illness or death, sustained through person to person transmission” and “spread throughout the world,” according to the graphic that appeared next to Gupta.

The coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak appears to meet the first two bullet points but the word “throughout” could have a variety of interpretations.

That said, the virus has now found its way to every continent in the world, except Antarctica.

Gupta, meanwhile that the network’s intent is not to “cause panic, but rather to really cause a focus on preparedness.”

“It is not a decision we take lightly. While we know it sounds alarming, it should not cause panic,” reads an article with Gupta’s byline.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta re: identifying this outbreak as a pandemic: The intent is not to "cause panic, but rather to really cause a focus on preparedness." pic.twitter.com/zddvZvih5y

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 9, 2020