The World Health Organization announces official name for the novel coronavirus on Feb. 11, 2020, in Geneva. (Photo: Zhang Penghui/People's Daily)

The new strain of coronavirus that caused a pneumonia epidemic starting in late 2019 has been officially named “COVID-19,” the World Health Organization (WHO) announced in Geneva on Tuesday.

“We had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a media conference.

"Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing. It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks,” he said.

(Compiled by Chen Lidan)