The flu-like coronavirus that has sickened more than 43,100 people in over two dozen countries now has a name: Covid-19.
The CO stands for corona, the VI for virus and the D for disease, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, announced Tuesday at a news conference at the agency’s headquarters in Geneva.
“Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing,” Tedros told reporters. “It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreak.”
Tedros said the agency needed to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, animals, an individual or a group of people.
