KATHMANDU, March 13: The UNICEF Nepal has said that characterizing COVID-19 as a pandemic is not an indication that the virus has become deadlier. Rather, it is an acknowledgement of the disease’s geographical spread, the UN body said in a statement on Thursday. 

The statement came a day after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus as pandemic.

The UN body has said that the virus can spread to children in any country or community and it will continue to work with governments and partners to stop the spread of the virus. 

UNICEF has also expressed concerns over the secondary impacts of the outbreak and related control measures on children, including school closures, the burden on local health systems for the delivery of primary care, protection risks and economic pressures felt by some families.

“We remain on the ground working in affected communities to mitigate secondary impacts for children and push back against stigmatization,” the statement said.

 
• COVID-19
 
• UNICEF
 
• concerns.