World

Covid-19 to remain public health emergency: WHO

 
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the Covid-19 pandemic will remain classed as a public health emergency of international concern. The decision was made following the recommendations of an independent expert committee. The state of emergency has been in effect since the end of January 2020. The declaration of an emergency is the highest alert level that the WHO can impose. 'The pandemic is not over yet,' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

The emergency status level does not automatically lead to special conditions, rather the WHO uses it to alert governments and the public of an acute threat that they must prepare for accordingly. Whether and what restrictions authorities impose is decided by individual governments. -- dpa