A committee of global health experts is meeting today, Thursday, to determine whether COVID-19 still constitutes a public health emergency under the WHO's regulations. Dutch virologist Marion Koopmans, a member of the committee, indicated that "it is likely that the emergency will end, but it is important to declare that COVID still poses a complex public health challenge." She declined to make any further speculations prior to the discussions, which are considered confidential.
However, several countries, including the United States, have recently begun lifting local emergency orders. The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed hope for ending the international emergency this year. WHO advisors and external experts told Reuters, "There is no consensus yet on the decision the committee might make."
