Coronavirus (Covid-19) is no longer considered a "global health emergency", the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared. The statement made at the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee is a major step towards the end of the pandemic.
The statement comes three years after the body first declared its highest level of alert over the virus in 2020. WHO officials said the virus' death rate had dropped from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 on 24 April 2023.
According to the WHO's official coronavirus dashboard, nearly seven million people worldwide have died after contracting coronavirus with over 765 million confirmed cases.
Read more: Covid: No evidence shielding helped vulnerable people, Swansea University study says
But Director Genral Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the true figure was "likely" closer to 20 million deaths and he warned that the virus remained a significant threat.
"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've accepted that advice. It's therefore with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency," Dr Tedros said.
The WHO said that even though the emergency phase was over, the pandemic had not come to an end and referenced spikes in cases in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The WHO said that even though the emergency phase was over, the pandemic had not come to an end, noting recent spikes in cases in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added that if the situation worsened again he would have no issue in declaring another public health emergency.
In the UK, since March 2020 over 225,000 people died after catching coronavirus.
Read next:
Portakabin waiting area approved at cancer centre due to 'increasing demand' from patients
Expert answers questions about new Arcturus Covid variant as fresh symptom emerges
Who is eligible for a Covid booster as experts urge people to get a jab now
Covid test tech being developed for conditions such as diabetes and Lyme disease
