Covid no longer a global health emergency: World Health Organization

Even though it no longer represents an emergency, COVID-19 is here to stay, WHO said

London:

The World Health Organization said on Friday that COVID-19 no longer represents a global health emergency, a major step towards the end of the pandemic that has killed more than 6.9 million people, disrupted the global economy and devastated communities.

The WHO’s Emergency Committee first announced that COVID represented its highest level of alert three years ago on 30 January 2020. The position helps focus international attention on the health threat, as well as strengthen cooperation on vaccines and treatments.

Its lifting is a sign of progress made by the world in these areas, but COVID-19 is here to stay, the WHO has said, even if it no longer represents an emergency.

The death rate is set to decline from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 a week through April 24, according to data from the World Health Organisation.

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