WHO Declares Covid-19 Pandemic Emergency Over

The World Health Organization declared an end to the Covid-19 emergency, signaling that one of the most deadly and economically devastating pandemics in modern history is receding as the disease that caused it becomes a routine illness.

Covid-19 is here to stay, but the pandemic has been in a downward trend for more than a year because people around the world have built up immunity to the virus, the WHO said on Friday. Mortality has decreased, and there is less pressure on health systems. The trends have enabled most countries to return to prepandemic life, even as Covid-19 continues to spread.