Despite waning in severity, Covid-19 remains a global concern: WHO

Despite acknowledging that?the?three-year COVID-19 pandemic?may be approaching an inflexion point with higher levels of population immunity globally limiting the impact of Covid-19 on morbidity and mortality, it remains a dangerous infectious disease with the capacity to cause substantial damage to health and health systems.

This is according to the World Health Organisation’s Emergency Committee following a meeting to consider the status of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) which was announced exactly three years ago, six weeks before SARS-CoV-2 was declared a global pandemic.

“There is little doubt that the virus will remain a permanently established pathogen in humans and animals in the foreseeable future,” said WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

170 000 deaths in the past two months

“While the world is in a better position than it was during the peak of the Omicron transmission one year ago, more than 170 000 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported globally within the last eight weeks,” Tedros noted.

“In addition, surveillance and genetic sequencing have declined globally, making it more difficult to track known variants and detect new ones. Health systems are currently struggling with COVID-19 and caring for patients with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), health workforce shortages, and fatigued health workers. Vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics have been and remain critical in preventing severe disease, saving lives and taking the pressure off health systems and health workers globally. Yet, the COVID-19 response remains hobbled in too many countries unable to provide these tools to the populations most in need, older people and health workers.

The Emergency Committee discussed whether the continuation of a PHEIC is required to maintain global attention to COVID-19, the potential negative consequences that could arise if the PHEIC was terminated, and how to transition in a safe manner.

“While eliminating this virus from human and animal reservoirs is highly unlikely,?mitigation of its devastating impact on morbidity and mortality is achievable and should continue to be a prioritised goal,” the Committee noted.

It recommended that WHO, in consultation with partners and stakeholders, should develop a proposal for alternative mechanisms to maintain the global and national focus on COVID-19 after the PHEIC is terminated, including if needed a possible Review Committee to advise on the issuance of standing recommendations under the IHR.

The Committee also requested the WHO Secretariat to provide an assessment regarding the regulatory implications for developing and authorising vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics if the PHEIC were to be terminated in the coming months.

More than 6.7 million people globally, including 102 000 In South Africa have succumbed to Covid-19 since 2020.