The World Health Organization has determined that the COVID-19 pandemic no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. In Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the lifting of the highest level of alert, which had been in place for more than three years.
Tedros said the pandemic followed a downward trend during the previous year, 2022, pointing to increased immunity through vaccination and infection. He stressed that coronavirus had not been defeated, continued circulating worldwide and remained dangerous, with the potential to develop dangerous variants at any time.
The announcement has no direct practical effect on national measures, as each country determines its own protective policies. However, WHO followed the recommendation of an independent expert committee, satisfied that the world has effective tools to protect people from the virus.
Alongside vaccines and medicines, these tools include preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining physical distance in crowded, poorly ventilated indoor settings, according to the German Press Agency (dpa).
