WHO: Travel bans may not stop nCoV outbreak

The 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) has infected over 20,000 people worldwide with most cases in China.

As of Tuesday, nCoV's death toll reached 427 including two outside China, one each from Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending against travel or trade restrictions, some countries have imposed bans on flights from China.

Tarik Jasarevic, WHO spokesperson, said in a press interview that travel restrictions may seem intuitive but are not usually recommended by the WHO.

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative in the Philippines, told a Senate hearing that previous experience shows travel bans are not 100% foolproof and do not see a point in restrictive travel bans.

Abeyasinghe said member-states should decide on implementing travel restrictions based on their own risk assessments.