WHO: COVID-19 is no longer an emergency

The spread of a new type of coronavirus infection, or COVID-19, is no longer an emergency of international concern. Such a decision was adopted by the World Health Organization on May 5.

The epidemic of a previously unknown coronavirus infection that began at the end of 2019 in China was declared by WHO in January 2020 as an emergency of international concern in the field of health care. After the epidemic spread to other countries, it was declared a pandemic in March 2020. Many countries resorted to unprecedented quarantine measures that affected the world economy and people’s lives. Lockdowns and a mask regime were introduced, borders were closed, air traffic between countries was interrupted.

After mass vaccination and the appearance of new, less lethal strains, the number of deaths decreased sharply – if in January 2021, about 100,000 people died of COVID-19 in the world in a week, then in April 2023 – 3,500. The reduction in mortality made it possible to cancel the majority of restrictive measures during 2022.

According to the WHO, about 20 million people have become victims of the disease over the past three years and several months. We are talking about the assessment of all deaths, one way or another related to the infection. According to official data, information about which was collected by the American Johns Hopkins Institute, the coronavirus infection caused the death of about 7 million people.

WHO emphasizes that the virus has not disappeared, people continue to get sick, and the infection will most likely remain in the human population as one of the respiratory diseases.

Restrictions related to COVID-19 are still in effect in a number of regions of Russia. In particular, mass street events are prohibited in Moscow (in practice, this applies only to actions not approved by the authorities). Moscow authorities have not yet announced whether the ban will now be lifted.