World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned on Wednesday he’s “hopeful” that the COVID-19 pandemic will not be thought of a worldwide emergency a while subsequent yr.
His feedback at a briefing with media come as China dismantles its inflexible “zero-COVID” coverage and permits folks to reside with the virus, stirring issues the world’s No.2 economic system faces a surge in infections.
A WHO physique meets each few months to determine whether or not the brand new coronavirus, which emerged three years in the past in China’s Wuhan and has killed greater than 6.6 million folks, nonetheless represents a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC).
The designation is meant to set off a coordinated worldwide response and will unlock funding to collaborate on sharing vaccines and coverings.
Asked in regards to the circumstances wanted for the top of the PHEIC, WHO’s senior epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove mentioned: “There’s more work to be done.”
“If there are huge chunks of population that have not had vaccinations, the world still has a lot of work to do,” mentioned WHO’s emergencies director Mike Ryan about the identical challenge.
