https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/who-declines-to-declare-china-virus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency/

The World Health Organization on Thursday declined to designate the ongoing outbreak of a novel virus in China a global health emergency, saying that, for now, health officials have enough resources to combat the outbreak there and in other countries and that the agency does not need the additional authorities that come from such a declaration.

Announcing a public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC, grants the WHO director-general some certain powers, including the ability to issue recommendations for how countries should respond. Declaring a PHEIC can also galvanize global attention to the need to address the outbreak, which has sickened hundreds and killed at least 17 people in China, and led to cases in people who traveled from China to other countries, including Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and, as of Tuesday, the United States.