The COVID-19 outbreak, caused by SARS-CoV-2, which emerged in December 2019 and that we could barely get out of towards the end of 2021, had a profound effect on life all over the world. While life returned to normal thanks to vaccines developed and widely applied, the epidemic was still considered a global health emergency until today.
However, this situation eventually changed. The World Health Organization has determined that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international importance. On the other hand, it was reminded that the disease is a well-established and ongoing health problem in our lives.
How was the decision made?
The World Health Organization Committee evaluated the criteria for determining COVID-19 to be removed from its status as a global health emergency:
- an unusual event
- Threat to public health with international spread
- The need for an internationally coordinated response
Given the current state of COVID-19, it has been determined that this is no longer an unusual or unexpected event, although SARS-CoV-2 has circulated widely and continues to evolve.
The World Health Organization also gave recommendations to member countries:
- Maintain national capacity gains and prepare for future events to avoid a cycle of panic and neglect.
- Integrate COVID-19 vaccination into lifelong immunization programs.
- Combine information from a variety of respiratory pathogen surveillance data sources to allow for comprehensive situational awareness.
- Prepare for medical measures to be authorized within national regulatory frameworks to ensure long-term availability and supply.
- Continue to work with communities and their leaders for strong, flexible and inclusive risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management programs.
- Continue to lift health measures related to international travel for COVID-19.
- Developing vaccines that reduce transmission and have broad applicability; To understand the full spectrum of the post-COVID-19 condition, incidence, impact and development of SARS-COV-2 in immunocompromised populations; Continue to support research to develop relevant integrated care pathways.
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