Following the virtual fifteenth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee on May 4, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The Committee highlighted the decreasing trend in COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths and the high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that it is time to transition to long-term management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, agreed with the advice provided by the Committee and proposed Temporary Recommendations for continued vigilance and preparedness during the transition. The Director-General expressed concern about the decline in surveillance reporting to the WHO and inequitable access to life-saving interventions, and emphasized the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in the long term.
The 2023-2025 COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan was published to guide countries in transitioning to long-term management of COVID-19. The plan outlines important actions for five areas: collaborative surveillance, community protection, safe and scalable care, access to countermeasures, and emergency coordination.
The WHO Secretariat provided overviews of the status of the integration of COVID-19 surveillance into the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, the process for issuing Standing Recommendations under the IHR, and the potential regulatory implications for Emergency Use Listed (EUL) when a PHEIC is terminated. The WHO will continue to authorize the use of EUL procedures, and COVAX will continue to provide funded doses and delivery support throughout 2023 in line with demand.
