On 30 January 2020, the WHO’s Director General declared that the COVID-19 outbreak constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Here, Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist, WHO and current chairperson, MSSRF, weighs in with her expertise, explaining the issue in plain vanilla terms. Is the recent declaration by the World Health Organisation that COVID is no longer a public health emergency of international concern, a sign of hope? So it’s no longer considered a public health emergency, but the WHO Director General did warn that it is still a global threat. It makes public health sense to wear a mask if you have a cold and cough and if you’re going out of home, so that you’re protecting others.

Source: The Hindu May 08, 2023 09:24 UTC