The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that the COVID-19 pandemic may be over but the virus remains a global health threat.
According to the organisation, although the pandemic is in a different phase due to lower impact, it nevertheless remains a pandemic.
On May 5, 2023, the WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic to be over based on the significant decline in cases, deaths, and pressure on healthcare systems observed globally.
However, the WHO emphasises that COVID-19 remains a global threat and requires continued monitoring and surveillance.
The technical lead for the COVID-19 response at the WHO, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, said COVID-19 is still a pandemic threat because it is causing too many infections and reinfections, hospitalisations, and deaths.
Van Kerkhove said, "It’s still a pandemic causing far too many (re)infections, hospitalisations, deaths, and long covid when tools exist to prevent them.
“Cases and hospitalisations for COVID-19 have been on the rise for months; hospitals in many countries are burdened and overwhelmed from COVID and other pathogens, and deaths are on the rise.”
Van Kerkhove expressed worry that many people think COVID-19 is no longer something to worry about and warned that complacency was dangerous.
“I’m worried that too many think COVID-19 is not something to worry about, that they need a new variant with a Greek letter to take this virus seriously. When we need to assign a Greek letter, we will do so.
“We can’t forget those who died alone and the people dying now- thousands each week. The hundreds of thousands in hospital right now fighting for their lives. Those suffering from long COVID struggling every day.”
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