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The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that Covid-19 is still a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the organization’s highest level of alert.
The announcement came despite the fact that the number of weekly deaths is nearing its lowest point since the pandemic began, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Following its quarterly assessment meeting last week, the WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee stated that, despite a decrease in severe Covid-19 cases and a decrease in weekly deaths, Covid-19 deaths remain high when compared to other respiratory viruses.
It also warned of Covid-19-related complications and post-Covid-19 conditions, the full extent of which is still unknown. According to the committee, the outbreak could spread during the upcoming winter season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Meanwhile, current gaps in global Covid-19 surveillance have hampered early detection and evaluation of the virus’s evolution. With the virus expected to evolve further, the committee stated that the genetic and antigenic characteristics of future variants cannot be predicted reliably. The committee warned that evolving variants could pose challenges to current vaccines and therapeutics.
“Given the above considerations, the committee concurred that continued coordination of the international response is necessary,” and considered that “the situation remains dynamic and requires frequent reassessments, and that the termination of the PHEIC, when considered feasible, should be implemented as safely as possible.”
The committee recommended that three key priorities be prioritized in the future: strengthening surveillance and achieving vaccination targets for at-risk groups; increasing access to affordable therapeutics; and strengthening pandemic preparedness planning while protecting the most vulnerable groups.
Source:OCN
