World

WHO lifts Covid-19 health emergency

Coronavirus on the decline over past year, says its chief

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 05 May 2023 10:10PM

WHO lifts Covid-19 health emergency
World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stresses that Covid-19 has not been defeated, despite the global health agency no longer considering it an international health emergency. – AFP pic, May 5, 2023

GENEVA – The global Covid-19 pandemic is no longer considered an international health emergency, the World Health Organisation (WHO) decided today, reported German news agency dpa.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced in Geneva today the lifting of the highest alert level that can be imposed in the event of a threat, which has been in place for more than three years. 

The pandemic has been following a declining trend for the past year, Tedros said, referring to increased immunity through vaccination and infection. 

The announcement has no concrete impact because each country decides for itself the protective measures it will impose. The coronavirus has not been defeated, Tedros stressed. It continues to circulate in the world, is dangerous, and can still develop dangerous variants at any time. 

Nevertheless, WHO is following the recommendation of an independent expert committee because it is convinced that the world has good tools to protect people from the virus. 

In addition to vaccines and medicines, these include protective measures such as wearing masks or keeping your distance in crowded and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. – Bernama, May 5, 2023

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