Coronavirus death toll surpasses 1,100 as WHO names virus COVID-19

The death toll from China's novel coronavirus epidemic has surpassed 1,100, with 94 new deaths reported on Wednesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially named the virus COVID-19 and labeled it a "very grave threat" to the world.

As of Wednesday, over 44,000 individuals have been infected by COVID-19.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged global unity to combat the virus, stating there's a "window of opportunity to hit hard and stand in unison to fight this virus."

He warned that viruses can have "more powerful consequences than any terrorist action" and that failure to act now would lead to more cases.

A cluster of 174 cases has been identified on a cruise ship off the coast of Japan, marking the largest outbreak outside mainland China.

Concerns about a new phase of contagion abroad have been raised by the case of a British man who infected at least 11 others without having been in China.

Chinese authorities have locked down millions of people in several cities, with Hubei province reporting the majority of new deaths and having around 56 million people under lockdown.