COVID-19 no longer a global health emergency: WHO

(ECNS) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday that the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), the WHO's highest alert level. 

WHO Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement at a virtual press conference held in Geneva.

The WHO first gave COVID-19 its highest level of alert on Jan. 30, 2020 and characterized it as a the pandemic on March 11 the same year.

China downgraded its management of COVID-19 from category A to B on Jan 8, 2023 and declared a decisive victory against the epidemic on Feb 16.