The coronavirus has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, as the outbreak continues to spread outside China and now in the United States.
"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The concern is that it could spread to countries with weaker health systems WHO officials said.
The death toll now stands at 170 people in China.
The WHO said there had been 98 cases in 18 counties outside of China, but no deaths.
Most cases have emerged in people who have traveled from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began.
However, there have been eight cases of human-to-human infection - in Germany, Japan, Vietnam and the United States.
Dr. Tedros, speaking at the press conference in Geneva, described the virus as an "unprecedented outbreak" that has been met with an "unprecedented response."
He praised the "extraordinary measures" Chinese authorities had taken to prevent it from spreading.
"Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China," he added.