Covid-19 pandemic declared over by World Health Organisation

Rory Fleming

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly described the declaration as a “symbolic end” to the pandemic.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that it no longer considers Covid-19 a global emergency.

Over three years since the worldwide outbreak of the virus in March of 2020, the WHO’s update is the symbolic ending of a pandemic killed at least seven million people.

🚨 BREAKING 🚨

"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 have accepted that advice"-@DrTedros #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/esKKKOb1TZ

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 5, 2023

However, despite stating that the emergency phase of the pandemic is over, the globe’s governing health body were keen to stress that the Covid-19 is still very much active, with recent spikes in cases in south-east Asia and the Middle East.

Furthermore, the United Nations added that they still estimate the weekly death toll of the virus to be in the thousands on a global scale.

Speaking on the announcement, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “It’s with great hope that I declare Covid-19 over as a global health emergency… (but) that does not mean that Covid-19 is over as a global health threat”.

Three after the initial spread of the virus, it is estimated that over 760 million people contracted Covid-19, with 5 billion people across the globe having received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. called the announcement by the WHO a “symbolic end” to the pandemic. (Credit: Rolling News)

Irish Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly reacted to the WHO’s announcement by calling it “a symbolic end” to a pandemic which had a “profound impact”.

“It has affected our health, our economy, our everyday activities, and caused devastation through the loss of so many lives. While Covid-19 remains a global health threat, we have learned to live with it and return to normal life”.

Newly-appointed Chief Medical Officer Breda Smyth also reflected on the symbolic ending of the pandemic, by emphasising her want for the vaccination roll-outs to continue.

“It is vital that those eligible for primary Covid-19 vaccination and who have not yet received it, and those eligible for boosters, continue to come forward to strengthen their immunity and prevent severe disease”.

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