Although COVID-19 is no longer defined as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), it continues to take a significant toll on health globally. With the pandemic now in its fourth year, it is clear the virus is likely to stay with us for many years to come – if not forever. Responding to the current situation, and looking to the future, WHO/Europe is launching its transition plan for COVID-19.
“While the international public health emergency may have ended, the pandemic certainly has not,” explained Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, Regional Director for WHO/Europe. “And as our Region seeks to emerge from this crisis, it is also faced with new health threats, at a time when our health systems face increasing workforce and other challenges.”
“Using the momentum built since 2020, now is the time to invest and sustain the gains made during the pandemic response and apply the lessons of this pandemic and other health emergencies,” continued Dr Kluge. “This is the way to increase the resilience of our health systems against future shocks.”
Across Europe and central Asia, more than 270 million people have been infected by COVID-19 and over 2.2 million people have died from the disease since January 2020. Although hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 have declined significantly, thanks to increased population immunity, the continued widespread circulation of the virus means that thousands of vulnerable people are still dying each week. Despite progress made, inequities across the WHO European Region persist, and vast knowledge gaps still need to be filled.
