What specific early event did the WHO declare on January 30, 2020, representing the highest level of global alert?
Answer
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
The date of January 30, 2020, holds historical significance as the day the World Health Organization (WHO) formally designated the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This designation is explicitly identified as representing the highest level of alarm under international law specifically designed for a global health threat. This declaration preceded the broader declaration of the situation as a pandemic, which occurred in March 2020, and it was distinct from the domestic U.S. declaration made by HHS a day later. The PHEIC status was the initial critical marker of the international community acknowledging the severity of the evolving threat.

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