The UN’s World Health Organization on Thursday declared the deadly new coronavirus outbreak a global emergency — and revealed that the disease can spread more easily than previously thought.

While the majority of the more than 9,600 cases detected worldwide have been in China — where the mysterious flu-like illness originated in Wuhan in late December — 82 people in 18 other nations have since been infected.

“The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China but because of what is happening in other countries,” said WHO Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a Geneva press conference.

“Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems.”

Officials previously believed the virus — which has killed 213 people in China — could be transmitted through either close human-to-human contact or if an infected person sneezed or coughed near someone’s face.

But WHO revealed there’s new evidence suggesting the illness can spread simply by touching a contaminated surface. It’s unclear how long the virus can survive on surfaces.

“[There’s the] possibility of [transmission through] fomites, which is when you have virus on an inanimate surface, which can survive for a short period of time,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove at a WHO panel in Geneva.

People across China have been so on-edge, they’re taking extreme measures.

A taxi driver in Beijing was videotaped wearing a hooded green hazmat suit, goggles and a surgical mask behind the wheel.

“These are extraordinary times. I’m being responsible for myself and for my family,” the cabbie — who was also equipped with hand sanitizer — said in video posted by a passenger.

Also worrisome is that some countries — including the United States — have reported cases of the virus spreading to and between people who had not visited China.

A German man in his 30s contracted the illness after a Chinese colleague, whose parents had recently visited from Wuhan, went to his office for a meeting.

Four other workers at the same company then became infected.

“That’s the kind of transmission chain that we don’t want to see,” said Marion Koopmans, a member of WHO’s emergency committee.

Still, Tedros noted, “The vast majority of cases outside China have a history of travel to Wuhan or history of contact with someone with a travel history to ­Wuhan.

“This declaration is not a vote of nonconfidence in China. On the contrary, WHO continues to have the confidence in China’s capacity to control the outbreak.”

The country has placed some 60 million people under an effective lockdown in Hubei province, where Wuhan is the capital.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has also committed to helping contain the spread of the ­epidemic beyond his borders, Tedros said.

“During my discussion with the president and other officials, they’re willing to support countries with weaker health systems with whatever is possible,” he said.

The UN agency’s designation serves as an alert that the situation poses a risk to other counties and warrants a coordinated international response.

It can provide more money and resources to affected areas, but could also prompt foreign governments to cut off travel and trade with impacted nations.

Several airlines — including American Airlines, Air France and British Airways — have stopped flying to mainland China. Others have been limiting the number of flights to the ­country.

Chains like Starbucks and McDonald’s have temporarily been shuttering their outposts in China.

Some companies, including Google and IKEA, have closed their China operations.

But Tedros said WHO wasn’t recommending “and actually ­opposes” taking those steps.

“There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade,” he said.

Additional reporting by Yaron Steinbuch with Post wires