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Countries must “double-down” on their efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, the UN health agency said on Wednesday, after announcing that the global emergency can now be described as a pandemic.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the announcement as “a call to action – for everyone, everywhere”, the UN website reported.

The UN chief said in a message released late on Wednesday, that the new pandemic phase in the fight, was “a call for responsibility and solidarity – as nations united, and as people united."

“As we fight the virus, we cannot let fear go viral”, he added, noting that “together, we can still change the course of this pandemic – but that means addressing inaction,” Guterres said.

"The best science tells us, if countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response, we can go a long way to mitigating transmission."

He called on every government to step up and scale up their efforts, adding that “as we mourn all those who have lost their lives and the many families who are suffering, we must show solidarity with the most vulnerable – the elderly, the sick, those without reliable healthcare, and those on the edge of poverty."

“Let’s move forward with resolve and without stigma. Let’s overcome this common threat together,” the message read.