"No longer a global emergency": WHO lifts COVID-19 pandemic status

The World Health Organisation has declared that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency. The WHO stated that the pandemic has been on a downward trend over the past year, and most countries have already returned to pre-coronavirus life.

The decision to lift the global emergency was made on Thursday, May 4. According to CNN, a statement about the end of the pandemic was also posted on WHO's Twitter account.

"The World Health Organization announced on Friday that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency. The WHO's Emergency Committee on International Health Regulations discussed the pandemic on Thursday at its 15th meeting on COVID-19, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus agreed that the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern should be terminated," the newspaper writes.

During the press conference, the WHO Director-General announced a steady downward trend in coronavirus incidence over the past year.

"For more than a year now, the pandemic has been on the decline. This trend has allowed most countries to return to life as we knew it before COVID-19. Yesterday, the emergency committee met for the 15th time and recommended that I declare the end of the public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted this advice," he said.

As CNN reminded, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020. About six weeks later, the situation was described as a pandemic.

According to the WHO, more than 765 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported since the start of the pandemic.

At least 20 million people have died during the pandemic, according to Tedros Gebreisus.

Europe has the highest number of confirmed cases overall, but the Americas have the highest number of deaths. Approximately one in six deaths occurred in the United States.

"The incidence peaked in December 2022, when Omicron spread across the globe, particularly affecting the Western Pacific. However, billions of doses of the vaccine have been administered worldwide, and mortality rates have remained well below previous peaks. The number of Covid-19 infections and deaths is now at its lowest level in three years. However, more than 3,500 people died in the last week of April, and billions remain unvaccinated," the newspaper writes.

The WHO chief noted that the efforts of doctors, governments that have taken tough measures, and ordinary people who have made personal sacrifices for the sake of global security have helped to defeat COVID-19.

At the same time, the coronavirus is still around and causing harm. WHO also calls for lessons learned to prepare humanity for new viruses and outbreaks.

Earlier, it was reported that US President Joe Biden had signed a law to declassify intelligence on the origin of COVID-19. According to the head of state, this is necessary to prevent another COVID-19 epidemic.

It was also reported that the Director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Christopher Wray, said that the COVID-19 pandemic was likely caused by a leak from a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan. At the same time, he stressed that the Chinese government is doing its best to prevent the disclosure of the true cause of the pandemic.

Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!