The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic to be a public health emergency of international concern. World Health Organization: The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has six regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide. Only sovereign states are eligible to join, and it is the largest intergovernmental health organization at the international level. January 30, 2020. Wiki link