Covid is no longer a global public health emergency, the World Health Organization said on Friday. The WHO issued the statement more than three years ago, on January 30, 2020.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he made the decision following a recommendation by the WHO’s emergency committee, which met for the 15th time on Thursday.
«I have accepted that advice,» Tedros said. «Therefore, it is with great hope that I declare that Covid-19 is over as a global health emergency.»
«For more than a year, the pandemic has been on a downward trend, with increased population immunity from vaccination and infection, decreased mortality, and decreased pressure on health systems. health. This trend has allowed most countries to return to life as we knew it before. Covid-19,» Tedros said on Friday.
However, he noted that around the world, someone died of covid every three minutes in the past week, a figure that only includes reported deaths.
“The worst thing any country could do right now is use this news as a reason to drop their guard, dismantle the systems they have built, or send the message to their people that Covid-19 is not a cause for concern.” Tedros said.
This is a developing story.