RNS: The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared on Friday that COVID-19 is no longer a “global health emergency”.
Over three years after the UN health agency issued its highest level of alert over the deadly virus, which caused lockdowns, disrupted businesses, and killed millions of people throughout the world, the statement was made on 5 May.
WHO’s highest warning level for Covid has been applied at regular three-monthly panel sessions ever then.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organisation, said: “On Friday, 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 have accepted that advice. It’s, therefore, with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency.”
Tedros stated, “That does not mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threat.” If the coronavirus “put our world in peril,” he would meet experts again.
He noted that most countries have returned to pre-COVID-19 levels after more than a year of decline. COVID-19 had destroyed enterprises and impoverished millions, he said.
Tedros further mentioned that there were probably at least 20 million COVID-19 deaths, which is a significant amount higher than the 7 million that were officially reported.
“COVID has changed our world, and it has changed us,” he stated, while also issuing a warning about the possibility of new variations.
