The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it needs the full support of the entire United Nations system to prevent further spread of the deadly new coronavirus.

Officials said Thursday that up to 563 people had died from the virus, while 28,018 cases had been confirmed.

There were 159 confirmed cases in 23 countries and one death.

The UN health agency says it has developed a global strategic preparedness and response plan, outlining public health measures to support all countries to prepare for and respond to the outbreak from mainland China.

"The plan describes what we have learned so far about the virus and translates that knowledge into strategic action that can guide the efforts of all national and international partners when developing context-specific national and regional operational plans,” reads part of a WHO statement.

Accordingly, the document takes "what we have learned so far” about the virus and translates that knowledge into strategic action that can guide efforts of all national and international partners when developing context-specific national and regional operational plans.

WHO said $675.5 million is needed to implement priority public health measures in support of countries to prepare for and respond to the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

The response requirement period is three months, from February 1-April 30, with most funds going to nations that need help to protect against the virus.

On Wednesday, the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, briefed the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on the status of new coronavirus outbreak.

"We need the full support of the UN system working as one to prevent the further spread of the virus and save lives,” he later tweeted.

On Thursday afternoon, thanked the Government of Japan for its "timely, generous $10-million contribution” to the international new coronavirus outbreak response.  

Ghebreyesus tweeted: "The funds will support countries with weak health systems as they prepare for the potential spread of the virus. Together, for a safer world.”

The UN agency last week declared the outbreak a global health emergency.

Countries in the region have since advised their citizens against unnecessary travel to China.

Rwanda’s national carrier RwandAir announced Friday it was suspending flights to and from Guangzhou, China, with immediate effect, a decision it says will be reviewed this month.

Although there are no confirmed cases in Africa, the WHO regional office for Africa has said it is "on high alert” and will continue to support member states to build capacity to prepare and respond.

Surveillance remains a top priority for the regional office based in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

"A new virus is always a challenge and most laboratories in Africa lack the key material they need to perform tests on a novel pathogen,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

"WHO is working with countries to rapidly scale-up diagnostic capacity for 2019-nCoV. It is crucial that countries in the region can detect and treat severe cases early, preventing a widespread outbreak, which could overwhelm fragile health systems.”

Dr Moeti’s office acknowledged that the continent has close ties with China, the epicentre of the outbreak, and WHO assesses 2019-nCoV a high risk for the African region.

It noted that as this is a new virus, up until early this week there were only two laboratories in Africa – one in Senegal and the other in South Africa – which had the reagents needed to test samples and they have been working as referral laboratories for countries around the region.

Four other countries – Ghana, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone – have reported they can conduct tests as well. 

WHO said it is sending kits to 29 laboratories to the region which will ensure they have diagnostic capacity for novel coronavirus and can support testing samples from the neighbouring countries as well.

The UN health agency also announced it will scale up preparedness in Africa, particularly in 13 top priority countries: Algeria, Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

African countries have put in place strict screening at points of entry, especially airports.

In a related development, Chinese officials stepped up efforts to control the outbreak, particularly in the worst-hit region of Hubei.

A prefab 1,000-bed hospital dedicated to treating novel coronavirus infected patients in Wuhan in Hubei province, built in 10 days, was completed on February 2 and began operations a day later.

Besides Huoshenshan Hospital, a second hospital (Leishenshan) was also under construction with works initially due to be completed Thursday this week. This second facility can accommodate 1,600 patients, according to authorities.

Economic cost rising

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the economic cost due to the outbreak is rising in China – where the BBC reported that shares registered the biggest fall in four years – and beyond.

The travel and tourism industry is among those affected most.

Several airlines have suspended flights to China, an important supplier for the global motor industry and the electronics sector, among others.

Like in many countries, in Rwanda, businesses cannot fly direct to Guangzhou, a major source of merchandise.

Guangzhou, China’s transport, industrial and commercial hub, is home to the world’s 13th-busiest airport (Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport) by passenger traffic, handling 65,806,977 passengers that year alone.

WHO says it is working with the travel and tourism industry to discuss real and perceived risks experienced in the industry, measures put in place for customers and employees, and challenges faced due to the outbreak.

Tips on prevention

It has recommended that to protect against the new coronavirus, people should practice good hand and respiratory hygiene and safe food preparation practices.

"These include washing hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub, covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, avoiding close contact with anyone with flu-like symptoms, cooking food and especially meat,” the UN agency said.