WHO says 'the end is in sight' for the Covid pandemic as global deaths hit lowest since March 2020. The Covid pandemic may be nearing a close, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. New weekly deaths reached their lowest point last week since March 2020. The WHO recorded around 11,000 deaths globally from the week of Sept. 5-11, a 22% decrease from the week prior. New weekly cases also fell 28% in that time, from nearly 4.2 million during the week of August 29 to Sept. 4 to around 3.1 million last week, according to the WHO.
“We are not there yet, but the end is in sight.”
The WHO is responsible for declaring an end to Covid as a public health emergency of international concern, a designation it reserves for the most serious global disease outbreaks. Tedros did not indicate on Wednesday that such a declaration was imminent. Instead, the WHO outlined six key actions to help countries end their outbreaks, including continued testing, treatment and vaccinations, infection control in healthcare facilities, combating misinformation and clear public communication. "A marathon runner does not stop when the finish line comes into view," Tedros said. "She runs harder, with all the energy she has left. So must we. We can see the finish line. We’re in a winning position. But now is the worst time to stop running."
