The health crisis caused by the virus COVID-19killing at least 20 million people worldwide, was declared in March 2020 by the World Health Organisation. This Friday, three years later, the same director of the organization finally made the end emergency.

“It is with great hope that I declare that COVID-19 has ended as a global health emergency,” said in a press conference Tedros Adhanom ghebreyesusthe director of WHO.

However, that doesn’t mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threatsaid Tedros. “The worst thing a country can do right now is use this news as a reason to let their guard down, dismantle the systems they built, or send the message to their people that Covid-19 is not a cause for concern. it,” he explained. .

According to the director of WHO, it is time for countries to move from emergency mode to managing covid-19 along with other infectious diseases.

“On one level this is a time of celebration. We have reached this moment thanks to the incredible skill and selfless dedication of health and care workers,” continued Tedros.

But, “On another level, this is a time for reflection. Covid-19 has left deep scars on our world and continues to leave it”, the doctor noted. “These scars should serve as a permanent reminder of the potential for new viruses, with devastating consequences,” he added.

The WHO made the decision on Friday to lower the highest alert level after convening a group of experts on Thursday.

On May 3, the WHO scoreboard showed just under 7 million officially recorded deaths, but the organization’s head believes the true death toll is three times that.