5 May 2023—The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) is pleased to share the Report from the fifteenth meeting of the Emergency Committee concerning the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The meeting took place on May 4, 2023, and discussed the current status and future outlook.
During the meeting, the Committee emphasized the positive trends in the fight against COVID-19. They highlighted the decrease in COVID-19 deaths, a drop in hospitalizations and intensive care admissions, and the growing immunity levels within populations against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. After a series of evolving discussions, the Committee's stance is that it's time to transition towards a long-term approach in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO Director-General concurs with the Committee's counsel on the ongoing COVID-19 situation. He agrees that COVID-19 is now a sustained health challenge that no longer qualifies as a public health emergency of international concern. This signifies a significant step towards the steady management of the pandemic.
The decision to transition the COVID-19 pandemic to a long-term management approach represents a positive turning point in the global battle against the virus. The diminishing numbers of cases, coupled with the strategic approach to vaccination and public health measures, have paved the way for this shift. This transition indicates that humanity's collective efforts to combat the pandemic are yielding results, bringing hope for a future where the virus's impact is minimized and controlled.
Source: WHO. "Statement on the fifteenth meeting of the IHR (2005) Emergency Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic". https://www.who.int/news/item/05-05-2023-statement-on-the-fifteenth-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-pandemic. 5 May 2023. [Accessed: 9th May 2023].
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