It's been three years since the Covid was declared a global health Emergency by the World Health Organization, finally with millions of deaths across the world, lockdowns and pandemics after a span of three years, the World Health Organization has finally ended the global emergency status for COVID-19, saying,  "countries should now manage the virus that killed more than 6.9 million people along with other infectious diseases."

The statement from WHO represents a major step towards ending the pandemic after it first declared its highest level of alert over the virus.

Officials said the virus' death rate had dropped from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 on 24 April.

The head of the WHO said at least seven million people died in the pandemic.

"It is therefore with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that the end of the emergency did not mean COVID was over as a global health threat.

"Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I've accepted that advice. It is therefore with great hope that I declare Covid-19 over as a global health emergency," Dr Tedros said.

He added that the decision had been considered carefully for some time and made on the basis of careful analysis of data.

But he warned the removal of the highest level of alert did not mean the danger was over and said the emergency status could be reinstated if the situation changed.

"The worst thing any country can do now is to use this news as a reason to let down its guard, to dismantle the systems it has built, or to send the message to its people that Covid-19 is nothing to worry about," he said

"We can't forget those fire pyres. We can't forget the graves that were dug. None of us up here will forget them," said WHO's technical lead on COVID-19 Maria Van Kerkhove.

Source: BBC and Reuters