For the World Health Organization (WHO), the novel Coronavirus remains a health emergency of international concern, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.
In keeping the pandemic on the priority list, the WHO head followed the recommendations of the organisation's emergency committee, which held its latest quarterly meeting on Thursday.
At that meeting, the 18 independent experts mandated by the WHO addressed for the first time the question of whether or not to end the international Covid-19 emergency, their chairman Didier Houssin told the press.
“It’s too early,” he said. “There are still too many deaths, too much uncertainty.”
The colder period that is coming in several regions will be a test, the WHO Emergency Committee chairman added.
It will also be necessary to evaluate the legal question of the effects to be expected when the WHO decides to stop considering the coronavirus an international emergency.
“The virus continues to change,” Tedros said in a statement, calling on member States to strengthen surveillance for human cases of coronavirus, as well as the ability to detect and assess new variants.
Coronavirus in animals must continue to be considered in the response, he added.
The WHO Director-General also stressed that vaccination must continue to meet the goals set by WHO, including immunisation of all health personnel and vulnerable persons.
Access to testing and drugs must be increased for those most at risk, the WHO head stated further.
