The World Health Organization, WHO says Covid-19 no longer represents a global health emergency.
The announcement represents a major step towards ending the pandemic. This comes three years after it first declared its highest level of alert over the virus.
Officials said the virus’ death rate had dropped from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January, 2021 to just over 3,500 on 24th April.
The head of the WHO said at least seven million people died in the pandemic but said the true figure is likely to be closer to 20 million deaths.
The statement said the worst thing any country can do now is to use the news as a reason to let down its guard, to dismantle the systems it has built, or to send the message to its people that Covid-19 is nothing to worry about.
The WHO first declared Covid-19 as a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020.