COVID-19 Remains a Global Health Threat: WHO
by Iqra Zafar
SHARES
WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee organized its 14th meeting on the COVID pandemic on Friday. During the meeting, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus WHO Director General said that COVID-19 remains a global health emergency. He further said that the pandemic remains at a transition point.
In an official statement, WHO advisory committee urged WHO to propose “alternative mechanisms to maintain the global and national focus on COVID-19 after the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) is terminated.” The WHO Director-General acknowledged the Committee’s views saying that COVID-19 is at a transition point and further acknowledged the advice of the committee on the navigation of this transition along with the mitigation of potential negative consequences.
#COVID19 remains a global health threat, says @WHO, warning that the pandemic is not yet over.
“There is little doubt that this virus will remain a permanently established pathogen in humans & animals for the foreseeable future," says @DrTedros. https://t.co/fvWL75topi
— United Nations (@UN) January 30, 2023
An official statement issued by the committee said, “Achieving higher levels of population immunity globally, either through infection and/or vaccination, may limit the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on morbidity and mortality, but there is little doubt that this virus will remain a permanently established pathogen in humans and animals for the foreseeable future. As such, long-term public health action is critically needed.”
“While eliminating this virus from human and animal reservoirs is highly unlikely, mitigation of its devastating impact on morbidity and mortality is achievable and should continue to be a prioritized goal.”
In this situation, Tedros said that the countries, however, should follow vaccination routines, and disease surveillance as well as ensure a strong and efficient healthcare system and follow international travel standards for better risk assessment.
