The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday that the "unknown pneumonia" reported in Kazakhstan could be COVID-19.
Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of the Health Emergencies Program of the WHO, said at a regular briefing that the WHO is working with health authorities in Kazakhstan amid a rise in reported pneumonia cases in the country.
The WHO is studying the local testing conditions and quality for COVID-19, in case that some pneumonia cases are in fact undiagnosed cases of COVID-19, said Ryan, adding that the WHO "keeps an open mind" to other possibilities.
