CDC Official Warns of ‘Pandemic’ as Countries Begin To Take Drastic Measures

After an initial outbreak downplayed by Chinese officials and a limited number of cases worldwide, it now appears the COVID-19 virus is making its terrible grand entrance onto the global stage.

Now, at least one Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official is warning it could get much, much worse.

Although the contagious novel coronavirus caused the Chinese communist government to place hundreds of millions of people on lockdown, its presence in other countries was relatively low until recently.

But a spike in confirmed cases across several continents has governments taking drastic measures to isolate and end the viral outbreak.

In South Korea, where the number of confirmed cases quadrupled over the course of just two days, according to The Washington Post, the government has partially locked down two cities. Daegu and Cheongdo were declared “special management zones,” The Korea Herald reported.

While it’s not a full quarantine, the order gives the outbreak a sense of urgency.

LeBron James Announces He’s Headed to a New Team – One Peculiar Line from His Explanation Stands Out

Ilhan Omar’s office housed inside Somali community center that received redirected Feeding Our Future donations

Injuries reported in crash involving police vessel near Westminster Bridge in London

‘Allahu Akbar!’ Jewish and Asian Victims Stabbed by Man Shouting Islamic Battle Cry in Mamdani’s NYC

Bombshell memo shows Biden planned to leave Trump with even more massive immigration crisis

‘McCarthy trials’: Hasan Piker, far-left figures erupt over subpoenas in $39M Singham probe

Democrats weigh backing Trump’s push to pair Iran with Russia sanctions

Watch: Boy, 9, Has Slick Message for Bank Robber He Rescued His Nana From

Watch: Legendary ‘Journey’ Band Member, Songwriter Tells Trump-Hating Bruce Springsteen to ‘Shut Up’

Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed accused Trump of inciting terrorism over Whitmer kidnapping plot

WATCH: Scalise serves up Olive Garden reality check for Democrats in voter ID fight

Illinois worker spent over six hours trapped in gas station sign too tall for fire truck ladders to reach

Purported Nancy Guthrie note includes unusual demand that breaks basic ransom rule: retired FBI negotiator

Rep. Jimmy Gomez’s toughest opponent may be an ethics investigation

Secret Service offers glimpse into WHCA Dinner security after alleged Trump assassination attempt

Authorities in the crowded peninsula of 51 million will have to work with caution and determination to keep the country from following the same path as China.

A comparatively smaller spike of COVID-19 cases in the Lombardy region of Italy caught officials off guard. According to Deutsche Welle, public buildings and schools in towns across northern Italy are are being shuttered to prevent additional transmission.

Local media seems to hint the affected areas are beginning to see the precursors of a more serious reaction, as multiple train stations near the outbreak have been ordered to close.

A similar outbreak in Iran led to the deaths of two men before the country was even listed as having any confirmed cases by the World Health Organization.

In America, fear of the coronarivus is now being seen.

Entertainment giant Sony announced the company is no longer attending a major industry convention in Boston, PAX East, “due to increasing concerns related to COVID-19.