On May 5, the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed the COVID-19 global health emergency to be over.
Since January 30, 2020, there has been a public health emergency of international importance. The decision was taken by WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus based on recommendations from WHO's emergency committee.
The decision indicates "that it is time for countries to transition from emergency mode to managing COVID-19 alongside other infectious diseases," Ghebreyesus said at a news conference from Geneva.
Officials noted that COVID-19 instances have been decreasing for months and that the number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and/or been vaccinated has been increasing.
“This trend has allowed most countries to return to life as we knew it before COVID-19,” Ghebreyesus said.
He noted that the conclusion of the emergency does not indicate that the threat of COVID-19 has vanished, noting that people are still dying from the sickness.
“This virus is here to stay. It is still killing, and it is still changing. The risk remains of new variants emerging that cause new surges in cases and death,” he said. “The worst thing any country could do now is to use this news as a reason to let down its guard, to dismantle the systems it has built, or to send the message to its people that COVID-19 is nothing to worry about.”
WHO authorities have continuously advocated for measures like as travel bans and COVID-19 immunization, which they claim have aided in the fight against the epidemic. However, several nations that fared well in criteria like as COVID-19 deaths declined to implement some of the strictest policies. The vaccinations have never been demonstrated to prevent transmission or illness, and their performance has deteriorated against newer strains.
The decision came approximately a week before the United States' COVID-19 public health emergency designation was set to expire. A similar proclamation was terminated in April when President Joe Biden signed a law that he opposed but that Congress approved.
While the end of the public health emergency means disbanding WHO's emergency committee, WHO officials have decided to use an international regulation never used before to create a new committee focused on developing long-term recommendations for countries on how to manage COVID-19 in the future.
WHO is already in talks with governments about pandemic treaties. Critics have cautioned that the United States may wind up relinquishing control to the United Nations organization. A deal, according to WHO and the White House, would help the globe prepare for the next epidemic.
