The World Health Organization, WHO declares an end to Covid-19 as a “global health emergency”. The statement comes three years after the virus was first declared as a high alert situation in January 2020 and represents a major step towards the end of the pandemic.
According to officials, 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 WHO said at least seven million people died in the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus 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 is therefore with great hope that I declare Covid-19 over as a global health emergency,” Dr Tedros said.
