2019-2023 COVID-19 Pandemic

In December 2019, WHO received reports of an unknown respiratory illness in China, found in January 2020 to be caused by a novel coronavirus. It quickly spread to other countries in east Asia and the WHO declared the outbreak a PHEIC on January 30, 2020. By March 2020, cases had been confirmed in most of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Mitigation measures included widespread lockdowns, mass gathering restrictions, travel restrictions, and the use of face masks. There were also significant efforts to disburse resources and funding to assist healthcare facilities, businesses, and individuals most impacted by the pandemic. Various vaccines were developed at an unprecedented pace, with the first mass vaccination efforts in Europe and the US beginning in December 2020. The WHO declared an end to the PHEIC on May 5, 2023, while emphasizing that COVID-19 remains a global health threat. The WHO announced a review committee to develop recommendations as countries transition from emergency response to long-term management of COVID-19 alongside other diseases.