SINGAPORE, March 6 — The coronavirus spreading around the world from China is "starting to look like a global pandemic," said Singapore minister Lawrence Wong, who co-heads the country's virus fighting taskforce.

The spread of the infection has been accelerating in other parts of the world, including in Europe and North America, in recent days.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not categorised the current situation as a pandemic but has said the United Nations agency would use the term if it became necessary. — Reuters