The World Health Organization (WHO) has just declared a pandemic over COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
One of the main factors that distinguishes an epidemic from a pandemic is the area over which the disease spreads. Epidemics are increases in infections (beyond what's normally seen) that are typically confined to a given region; while pandemics are epidemics that spread over a wider area, typically worldwide, Live Science previously reported. In other words, pandemics cause infections on a much larger scale than epidemics.
One of the main factors that distinguishes an epidemic from a pandemic is the area over which the disease spreads. Epidemics are increases in infections (beyond what's normally seen) that are typically confined to a given region; while pandemics are epidemics that spread over a wider area, typically worldwide, Live Science previously reported. In other words, pandemics cause infections on a much larger scale than epidemics.