© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

WHO says COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

It's official. After three years of illness and millions of deaths, the World Health Organization made a historic announcement just moments ago.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS: It's therefore with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency.

FADEL: The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a news conference just minutes ago. NPR global health correspondent Nurith Aizenman is here to tell us more. Hi.

NURITH AIZENMAN, BYLINE: Hi, Leila.

FADEL: OK. So it's been more than three years since the WHO declared this global emergency. So what does it actually mean to declare it not a global emergency anymore?

AIZENMAN: Yeah, right. So back on January 30, 2020, when the coronavirus was still mainly limited to China - fewer than a hundred reported cases outside of China - the WHO's head, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, used these special powers that he has under an international health agreement to declare this situation - that it was already, quote, "a public health emergency of international concern." And that's a largely symbolic move that's available to him under this international health agreement. And again, it is symbolic, but it's one that can also be incredibly powerful in terms of convening international attention and resources and just mobilization.

FADEL: So does this mean the...

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

TEDROS: COVID-19 has turned our world upside down. Almost 7 million deaths have been reported to WHO. But we know the toll is several times higher, at least 20 million.

AIZENMAN: Yeah, that's Tedros speaking about just how much has happened since then.

FADEL: So why now? Why declare it over now?

AIZENMAN: Well, you know, they pointed to several reasons, Tedros and also the members of the committee that advised him. And they said that on the one hand, you know, the pandemic is not over. And frankly, it's not WHO that declares whether a pandemic begins and when a pandemic ends. But this tool for, you know, convening global attention is really meant to be during an emergency. And now the pandemic has shifted into a different phase, a very serious phase, and one that's going to require continued attention. But it's no longer in that emergency state, the way they see it.

FADEL: And when you say a different phase, what does that mean? What's next?

AIZENMAN: Well, you know, they're still calling for ongoing surveillance, ongoing vaccinations. And they're particularly concerned about making sure that the world is aware of any new variants that might emerge because they also warned that if that happens, you know, and it's a variant that does cause a new kind of emergency, you know, they might go back and declare, you know, that it is an emergency again.

FADEL: NPR global health correspondent Nurith Aizenman. Thank you so much for your reporting.

AIZENMAN: You're welcome, Leila. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Leila Fadel is a national correspondent for NPR based in Los Angeles, covering issues of culture, diversity, and race.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.