Covid-19 is no longer classified as a “global health emergency” by the World Health Organization (WHO). The decision was made by the WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee during its 15th meeting on Covid-19 on Thursday, May 4.
Speaking at a conference on Friday, May 5, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus agreed that the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC, should be lifted.
“For more than a year the pandemic has been on a downward trend. This trend has allowed most countries to return to life as we knew it before Covid-19,” Tedros said. “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 have accepted that advice.” he said
In January 2020, the organization designated the Coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, roughly six weeks before classifying it as a pandemic. The United States’ Covid-19 public health emergency is anticipated to conclude on May 11.
According to WHO figures, there have been over 765 million confirmed Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began. Almost 7 million people have been killed. Although Europe has had the most verified cases, the Americas have recorded the most deaths. In the United States, around one in every six deaths occurred.
The statement represents a major step towards ending the pandemic and comes three years after it first declared its highest level of alert over the virus.
Officials said the virus’ death rate had dropped from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 on 24 April.
The head of the WHO said at least seven million people died in the pandemic.
But Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the true figure was “likely” closer to 20 million deaths – nearly three times the official estimate – and he warned that the virus remained a significant threat.
“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,” Dr Tedros said.