The World Health Organization has lifted the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for COVID-19. The declaration had been in impact since Jan. 30, 2020.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
It’s official. After three years of sickness and thousands and thousands of deaths, the World Health Organization made a historic announcement simply moments in the past.
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TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS: It’s due to this fact with nice hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a world well being emergency.
FADEL: The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a information convention simply minutes in the past. NPR world well being correspondent Nurith Aizenman is right here to inform us extra. Hi.
NURITH AIZENMAN, BYLINE: Hi, Leila.
FADEL: OK. So it has been greater than three years because the WHO declared this world emergency. So what does it really imply to declare it not a world emergency anymore?
AIZENMAN: Yeah, proper. So again on January 30, 2020, when the coronavirus was nonetheless primarily restricted to China – fewer than 100 reported instances outdoors of China – the WHO’s head, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, used these particular powers that he has underneath a world well being settlement to declare this example – that it was already, quote, “a public well being emergency of worldwide concern.” And that is a largely symbolic transfer that is obtainable to him underneath this worldwide well being settlement. And once more, it’s symbolic, however it’s one which may also be extremely highly effective when it comes to convening worldwide consideration and sources and simply mobilization.
FADEL: So does this imply the…
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TEDROS: COVID-19 has turned our world the wrong way up. Almost 7 million deaths have been reported to WHO. But we all know the toll is a number of instances larger, a minimum of 20 million.
AIZENMAN: Yeah, that is Tedros talking about simply how a lot has occurred since then.
FADEL: So why now? Why declare it over now?
AIZENMAN: Well, you realize, they pointed to a number of causes, Tedros and likewise the members of the committee that suggested him. And they stated that on the one hand, you realize, the pandemic shouldn’t be over. And frankly, it is not WHO that declares whether or not a pandemic begins and when a pandemic ends. But this device for, you realize, convening world consideration is admittedly meant to be throughout an emergency. And now the pandemic has shifted into a unique section, a really severe section, and one which’s going to require continued consideration. But it is not in that emergency state, the way in which they see it.
FADEL: And once you say a unique section, what does that imply? What’s subsequent?
AIZENMAN: Well, you realize, they’re nonetheless calling for ongoing surveillance, ongoing vaccinations. And they’re notably involved about ensuring that the world is conscious of any new variants that may emerge as a result of additionally they warned that if that occurs, you realize, and it is a variant that does trigger a brand new type of emergency, you realize, they may return and declare, you realize, that it’s an emergency once more.
FADEL: NPR world well being correspondent Nurith Aizenman. Thank you a lot in your reporting.
AIZENMAN: You’re welcome, Leila.
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