# WHO declares end to COVID global health emergency Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-05-05 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: WHO declares end to COVID global health emergency Meta Description: The World Health Organization announces that COVID-19 no longer represents a global health emergency, marking a significant milestone in the fight against the URL: https://financedigest.com/who-declares-end-to-covid-global-health-emergencyhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-05-05t132915z1lynxmpej440h3rtroptp4health-coronavirus-usa-emergency-1736814060438-compressed.jpg) LONDON (Reuters) -COVID-19 no longer represents a global health emergency, the World Health Organization said on Friday, a major step towards the end of the pandemic that has killed more than 6.9 million people, disrupted the global economy and ravaged communities. The WHO’s Emergency Committee met on Thursday and recommended the UN-agency declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern, which has been in place for over three years.     “It is therefore with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding the [end of the emergency did not mean](https://www.financedigest.com/could-the-cashless-society-mean-the-end-of-the-classic-bank-run.html "Could the ‘cashless society’ mean the end of the classic bank run? ") COVID was over as a global health threat. The WHO’s emergency committee first declared that COVID represented its highest [level of alert more than three years](https://www.financedigest.com/glastons-interim-report-1-january-31-march-2018-orders-received-grew-23-comparable-operating-profit-at-previous-years-level.html "Glaston’s Interim Report 1 January – 31 March 2018: Orders received grew 23%, comparable operating profit at previous year’s level") ago, on Jan. 30 2020. The status helps [focus international](https://www.financedigest.com/broadridge-enhances-focus-on-global-growth-creates-broadridge-international-to-accelerate-next-wave-of-growth-in-emea-and-asia-pacific.html "Broadridge Enhances Focus on Global Growth, Creates Broadridge International to Accelerate Next Wave of Growth in EMEA and Asia Pacific") attention on a health threat, as well as bolstering collaboration on vaccines and treatments. Lifting it is a sign of the progress the world has made in these areas, but COVID-19 is here to stay, the WHO has said, even if it no longer represents an emergency. [“COVID has changed the world](https://www.financedigest.com/covid-war-and-fed-push-world-stocks-down-for-4th-day.html "COVID, War and Fed push world stocks down for 4th day"), and it has changed us. And that’s the way it should be. If we go back to how things were before COVID-19, we will have failed to [learn our lessons](https://www.financedigest.com/can-financial-services-firms-learn-lessons-from-the-governments-digital-transformation.html "Can financial services firms learn lessons from the Government’s digital transformation?"), and failed our future generations,” said Ghebreyesus. The death rate has slowed from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 in the week to April 24, 2023, [according to WHO data](https://www.financedigest.com/most-sales-and-marketing-teams-struggle-to-activate-data-in-their-organisation-according-to-new-international-study.html "Most Sales and Marketing teams struggle to activate data in their organisation, according to new international study"). The WHO does not declare the [beginning or end](https://www.financedigest.com/where-does-your-travel-policy-end-and-gadget-insurance-begin.html "Where does your travel policy end and gadget insurance begin?") of pandemics, although it did start using the term for COVID in March 2020. [Last year](https://www.financedigest.com/over-50-of-businesses-increased-their-cyber-security-budget-last-year-amid-attacks.html "Over 50% of businesses increased their cyber security budget last year amid attacks"), U.S. President Joe Biden said the pandemic was over. Like a number of other countries, the [world’s biggest](https://www.financedigest.com/three-of-the-worlds-biggest-asset-bubbles-willbitcoin-be-next.html "Three of the world’s biggest asset bubbles– willBitcoin be next?") economy has begun dismantling its domestic state of emergency for COVID, meaning it will stop paying for vaccines among other benefits. Other regions have taken similar steps. The European Union said in April last year the emergency phase of the pandemic was over, and the WHO’s African head, Matshidiso Moeti, said in December it was [time to move to routine management](https://www.financedigest.com/uncertain-times-for-uk-landlords-how-to-avoid-insolvency-for-your-property-management-business-in-2020.html "Uncertain Times for UK Landlords: How to Avoid Insolvency for Your Property Management Business in 2020") of COVID across the continent. Ending the emergency could mean that international collaboration or funding efforts are also brought to an end or [shift in focus](https://www.financedigest.com/the-change-perspective-uks-financial-institutions-shift-focus-to-revenue-growth-in-2019.html "The Change Perspective: UK’s financial institutions shift focus to revenue growth in 2019"), although many have already adapted as the pandemic has receded in different regions. [(Reporting by Jennifer Rigby in London](https://www.financedigest.com/london-reclaims-place-as-preeminent-global-financial-centre-for-the-first-time-since-2013-according-to-global-regulatory-outlook-report-from-duff-phelps.html "London reclaims place as preeminent global financial centre for the first time since 2013, according to Global Regulatory Outlook report from Duff & Phelps"), Gabrielle Tétrault-Farbe in Geneva, Bhanvi Satija and Raghav Mahobe in Bengaluru; Editing by Josephine Mason and Shinjini Ganguli) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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