WHO director general declares end to COVID public health emergency

By Vera Fon

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director General, Dr Tadros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has declared an end to the covid-19 public health emergency of international concern.

This was during the fifteenth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee held this May 04 2023.

After the committee members highlighted the decreasing trend in COVID -19 deaths, the decline in COVID 19 related hospitalizations during this deliberation session, the WHO Director General, agreed with the committee that COVID 19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.

“Yesterday, the Covid19 Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end of the public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice. With great hope I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency,” Tedros Adhanom wrote on his twitter page.

Dr Tedros noted that, the number of weekly deaths and hospitalizations continue to decrease but expressed concern about the decline in surveillance reporting to the WHO.