general
WHO ends COVID-19 global emergency status
The World Health Organization moved COVID-19 from emergency mode to long term management on May 5, 2023, urging countries to keep vaccination, surveillance and health system preparedness in place.
Mar 27th 2026 · World
Insights
- WHO ended the COVID-19 public health emergency of international concern on May 5, 2023, after more than three years under the declaration.
- The agency said COVID-19 remains a global health threat but no longer meets the PHEIC criteria.
- WHO advised countries to transition from emergency response to long term management by integrating COVID-19 surveillance, vaccination and clinical care into routine health systems.
- The change does not remove the need for ongoing preparedness, including variant monitoring, testing capacity and hospital surge readiness.
- WHO recommended continued vaccination and targeted booster programs to reduce severe disease and deaths, and urged countries to maintain rapid reporting and public health measures as needed.