The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared (宣布) the new coronavirus (冠状病毒) outbreak a global public health emergency after the spread of the disease across the world. WHO made the decision in its third meeting about the coronavirus, after it decided not to take such a step in the first two meetings.

    Officially called a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), it is considered to be a public health risk through the international spread of disease. It suggests a serious, sudden and unusual situation in which the world must act quickly.

    Since 2009, there have been a few global health emergencies, including the 2009 swine flu pandemic (猪流感) and the 2014 outbreak of ebola in West Africa.

    The new coronavirus has got attention because of its similarity to SARS which killed about 800 people across the world in 2002-2003. So far, the new coronavirus does not seem to be as deadly as SARS, but there have been more cases.    

    Its declaration could cause trade and travel restrictions (限制). Those who have made holiday plans might have their plans affected (受影响的) in some parts of the world.

    The WHO said its greatest worry was the potential (潜在性) for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, who might not be able to handle (处理) it.

    “We are all in this together and we can only stop it together,” said the WHO’s Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

1. What does the underlined phrase “take such a step” mean in the first paragraph?

A. Spread the coronavirus across the world.

B. Declare the coronavirus a global public health emergency.

C. Hold the third meeting about the coronavirus.

D. Restrict trade and travel across the world.

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. The 2009 swine flu pandemic was a global public health emergency.

B. SARS killed about 800 people across the world in 2009.

C. The new coronavirus has few cases than SARS.

D. The spread of the coronavirus has no risk.

3. What could the declaration of global public health emergency cause?

A. Bigger outbreak of the coronavirus.

B. Trade and travel restrictions.

C. A weaker health system.

D. Immediate stop of the coronavirus.