World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (L) speaks at a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 11, 2020.(Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

The coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people across Europe, forcing European countries to impose more travel restrictions, among others, to contain the spread of the virus.

BRUSSELS, March 11  -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a "pandemic."

The Geneva-based WHO's assessment came as the coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people across Europe, forcing European countries to impose more travel restrictions, among others, to contain the spread of the virus.

UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC SPARKED BY CORONAVIRUS

"We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time," Tedros added.

There are now more than 118,000 confirmed cases in 114 countries and regions, and 4,291 people have lost their lives, Tedros said.

He noted that the number of coronavirus cases, deaths, as well as affected countries, is expected to climb even higher in the days and weeks ahead.