The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to maintain the maximum alert level for the covid-19 pandemic, following a meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee.

Although the committee recognized that the pandemic may be approaching a turning point, it decided that "there is no doubt" that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus will remain a permanently established pathogen in humans and animals for the future and therefore long-term public health action is critically needed, the WHO announced in a statement released today.

"Although the elimination of this virus from human and animal reservoirs is highly unlikely, the mitigation of its devastating impact on morbidity and mortality is feasible and must remain a priority objective," stresses the WHO, quoted by Lusa.