World Health Organization Lifts COVID-19 Global Emergency, But Warns of Variants
Key Highlights :
The World Health Organization (WHO) made headlines Friday, announcing that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency. The emergency had been in effect for over three years, and the official public health emergency will be lifted on Thursday in the United States. Despite the good news, health experts are still warning that the virus will be around for years and there is always concern about potent variants.
Dr. Robert Klugman of UMass Memorial Medical Center said, “COVID is absolutely still a threat. Every day, every way, unfortunately.” He went on to say that if a new variant with a whole new set of antibodies appears, then we could be back to square one in terms of starting over with the risks, the protections and the vaccines.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced her resignation from the top job at the CDC next month, citing the good news about the lifting of the global health emergency as the reason for her departure.
Despite the lifting of the global health emergency, COVID-19 is still considered a pandemic, as thousands of people are still dying of the virus worldwide every week. Many major health centers in Massachusetts, including Beth Israel Lahey, Mass General Brigham, and UMass Memorial, will no longer require masking in health care settings beginning next Friday for most patients.
While the loosened mask policy is good news, some health experts are concerned that it could lead to a situation where hospitals and clinics become high-transmission zones for COVID-19. Dr. Lara Jirmanus, a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School, said, “I think this is really an abomination. We’re basically setting ourselves up for a situation where hospitals and clinics become high-transmission zones for COVID-19.”
Some patients will still have to wear masks, especially if they have COVID or flu-like symptoms. Some facilities are also still keeping a mask mandate in place.
Although the WHO has lifted the global health emergency, it is important to remember that COVID-19 is still a serious threat and that people should continue to follow safety protocols such as wearing masks and social distancing to protect themselves and others.
