Cape Town – The National Department of Health has warned that the Covid-19 pandemic is not over.
This came after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared on Friday that Covid-19 was no longer a public health emergency of international concern.
But the department said it was important to clarify that this did not mean the pandemic was over.
“The fact of the matter is, the pandemic remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality especially in high-risk populations such as the elderly and people living with comorbidities.”
The department said that the number of cases was far lower at the current moment than during the height of the pandemic, hence it was no longer viewed as a public health emergency.
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Meanwhile, the department, in line with WHO recommendations, continued to recommend vaccination, especially for high routine health services and will continue to offer services aimed at preventing and treating Covid, including vaccination services.
On Thursday, Health Minister Joe Phaahla told the Presidential Health Summit delegates that the country still had at least 25 million vaccine doses and urged those who had not had their booster shots to get the jab, as winter approached.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Emergency Committee members highlighted the decreasing trend in Covid-19 deaths, the decline in Covid-19 related hospitalisations and intensive care unit admissions, and the high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
“The committee’s position has been evolving over the last several months. While acknowledging the remaining uncertainties posted by potential evolution of SARS-CoV-2, they advised that it is time to transition to long-term management of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
He said Covid-19 was now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constituted a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
.@DrTedros declared yesterday that a global health emergency of #COVID19 is over, but the virus is here to stay & is still a global health threat.
? Join today’s #AskWHO live Q&A with @DrMikeRyan & Dr @mvankerkhove to hear more about the way forward in managing this virus ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/twmcyVBeHg
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 6, 2023
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
