On May 6th, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially removed COVID-19’s global emergency status, over three years after its initial declaration. With a staggering death toll of over 6.9 million, the virus is now to be managed by individual countries, alongside other infectious diseases.
On Thursday, the Emergency Committee of the global health agency advised that the UN organization no longer categorize the coronavirus crisis as a “public health emergency of international concern.” This classification, the highest level of alert, has been in effect since January 30, 2020.
The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed optimism as he announced the conclusion of the COVID-19 global health emergency. However, he cautioned that this doesn’t signify an end to the pandemic as a global health hazard.
While briefing the press on the decision, WHO members grew emotional during a lengthy conference call. They encouraged nations to contemplate the lessons learned during the pandemic.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the technical lead on COVID-19 at WHO, emphasized that the memories of the fire pyres and graves shall always remain etched in their minds. It is a solemn reminder that none of them can afford to forget.
As per WHO data, the COVID death rate has significantly declined from its peak of 100,000 people per week in January 2021. The most recent data for the week ending April 24, 2023, shows just over 3,500 deaths. This decline can be attributed to the widespread availability of vaccines, better medical treatments, and a considerable level of population immunity from previous infections.
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Terminating the emergency could lead to the cessation or realignment of international funding and collaborative initiatives. Nonetheless, numerous entities have adjusted as the pandemic abated in distinct areas.
According to Michael Ryan, the WHO’s emergencies director, the fight against viruses is ongoing, and there are still vulnerabilities in our system that could be brought to light by future outbreaks. These weaknesses must be addressed and resolved to prevent further damage.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) began using the term “pandemic” for COVID in March 2020, it refrains from declaring the start or end of pandemics.
Ryan observed that pandemics often culminate with the advent of the succeeding pandemic.
In 2020, President Joe Biden declared an end to the pandemic. As with other nations, the largest economy globally, the United States, has launched a process of deactivating its COVID-related domestic emergency measures. On May 11, the official end of the state of emergency will signal the cessation of the government’s vaccine and testing payments for the general public, leaving the responsibility to the commercial market.
In April of the previous year, the European Union announced that the pandemic’s emergency phase had ended, and other areas have followed suit with comparable measures.
A pressing concern for public health.
Merely four months after China lifted its prolonged and restrictive COVID measures, a surge in infections ravaged the country, leading to the WHO’s declaration.
WHO’s advisors have signaled a belief that a more hazardous strain of coronavirus is unlikely to surface in the near future, following a recent decision. Despite this, the virus is still highly unpredictable.
Tedros, the head of the WHO, stated that he would not hesitate to assemble another emergency committee if COVID-19 once again threatened the world.
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COVID testing has significantly decreased in many regions worldwide, resulting in a decrease in mask usage. However, some nations have reinstated mask mandates during outbreaks. Recently, the World Health Organization released a long-term plan aimed at helping countries cope with the COVID pandemic.
Infectious disease specialists warn that COVID-19 will pose a long-standing threat to global healthcare systems, including the implications of long COVID. According to Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh, this does not imply that COVID-19 has become a non-issue.
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The issue still poses a considerable threat to public health and is expected to persist for the near future.
Must Read: Covid Booster Dose Registration | Vaccine Booking Third Dose
Dibash Sarkar from Kolkata, India contributed and edited this report for AFPR NEWS
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