End of pandemic? WHO says Covid-19 no longer global health emergency
London, May 5: In a major step towards the end of the pandemic, the World Health Organization announced on Friday that Covid-19 no longer represents a global health emergency.
The covid-19 pandemic has killed more than 6.9 million people, disrupted the global economy and ravaged communities.
“Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I've accepted that advice. It's therefore with great hope that I declare Covid-19 over as a global health emergency," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday.
COVID was declared an emergency by the WHO's emergency committee more than three years ago, on January 30, 2020. The status helps focus international attention on a health threat while also increasing collaboration on vaccines and treatments.
Lifting the health emergency status is a sign of the progress the world has made in these areas. But Covid-19 is here to stay even if it no longer represents an emergency, the WHO said.
According to WHO data, the death rate has fallen from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 in the week ending April 24.
"However, that does not mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threat," Ghebreyesus added.
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- With inputs from agencies
