The WHO's decision stems from the significant decrease in fatalities, hospitalizations, and the high levels of population immunity achieved through vaccination and widespread infections. While COVID-19 remains a public health threat, it no longer holds the status of an international health emergency. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges countries to maintain vigilance and not to dismantle health services established over the past three years.
Nearly 7 million deaths have been recorded since the pandemic's onset, but the actual toll could be much higher. Exiting the PHEIC phase means countries are no longer required to report case numbers and positivity rates to the WHO. However, COVID-19 is still considered a pandemic, and individual states can decide whether to treat it as a public health emergency within their territory.
The public may not notice significant changes as policymakers have already shifted their focus away from COVID-19 as a primary concern. The WHO's declaration may lead to further relaxation of measures, but the organization also acknowledges the risks of maintaining PHEIC status for too long.
COVID-19 is here to stay, and the world must learn to coexist with the virus. The challenges faced during the pandemic have taught us the importance of social connections, physical contact, and in-person relationships. We have also learned that human habits are difficult to eradicate, yet we are highly adaptable when faced with new social norms, such as vaccination and mask-wearing. In essence, we are creatures of habit and adaptability, striving to move forward in a post-pandemic world.
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