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Dublin Live
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Rayana Zapryanova

Covid-19 no longer a global health emergency, declares WHO

The World Health Organisation no longer considers Covid-19 a global health emergency.

However, WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that does not mean Covid-19 is over as a global health threat and thousands of people are still fighting for their lives in intensive care units. Covid-19 was first declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020 - the highest level of alarm under international law.

He said: "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 deaths.

Read more: First death linked to Covid Arcturus variant confirmed

"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."

Dr Tedros explained that "it is time for countries to transition from emergency mode to managing the virus alongside other infectious diseases". He also warned: "If need be, I will not hesitate to convene another Emergency Committee should Covid-19 once again put our world in peril."

Dr Tedros said that he has decided to use a provision in the International Health Regulations that has never been used before, to establish a Review Committee to develop long-term, standing recommendations for countries on how to manage the virus on an ongoing basis.

He added: "In addition, WHO this week published the 4th edition of the Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for Covid-19, which outlines critical actions for countries in five core areas: collaborative surveillance, community protection, safe and scalable care, access to countermeasures, and emergency coordination."

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