WHO Downward review on Covid-19, No Longer A Health Emergency

By Shingirai Vambe

The World Health Organization has ended the global emergency status for Covid-19 Friday afternoon three years after its original declaration, and said countries should now manage the virus that killed more than 6.9 million people along with other infectious diseases.

The global health agency’s Emergency Committee met on Thursday and recommended the UN Organization declare an end to the coronavirus crisis.

Friday Afternoon an announcement was made to the Media/Press and Covid-19 which has been in place since Jan. 30, 2020 was no longer a global health emergency .

Number of issues were raised, though issues of efficacy and reactions were raised, the subject of vaccines and other pandemics became topical, with the committee urging countries to take the booster jab or 3rd dose as it has helped in reducing casualties.

Who continue to urge nations to be on high alert, observing regulations in place and monitoring, saying pandemics does not end but they come one after the other.

“The battle is not over. We still have weaknesses and those weaknesses that we still have in our system will be exposed by this virus or another virus. And it needs to be fixed,” said the WHO’s emergencies director Michael Ryan.

Ending the emergency could mean that international collaboration or funding efforts are also brought to an end or shift in focus, although many have already adapted as the pandemic receded in different regions.

WHO members became emotional as they urged countries to reflect on lessons learned during the pandemic.

“We can’t forget those fire pyres. We can’t forget the graves that were dug. None of us up here will forget them,” said WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19 Maria Van Kerkhove.

The COVID death rate has slowed from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 in the week to April 24, 2023, according to WHO data, reflecting widespread vaccination, availability of better treatments and a level of population immunity from prior infections.

Globally, trillions of dollars was lost, companies closed and lives were lost. however, a new world order, a transformation in adapting the digital economies moved with speed. Covid-19 has its sad stories, but there are also positive ones.

Meanwhile, reported cholera cases on the rise in Zimbabwe and the region.