WHO says coronavirus is no longer a global emergency

Covid: We're almost bug to normal

- CHARLIE JONES

CORONAVIRUS is no longer a global emergency, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said, marking a symbolic end to the devastating pandemic.

The virus that swept across the world triggered lockdowns, upended economies and killed at least seven million people.

WHO said that even glob though the emergency phase was over, the pandemic hasn't come to an end, noting recent spikes in cases in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

The UN health agency says that thousands of people are still dying from the virus every week.

"It's with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency, WHO DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Tedros said the pandemic had been on a downward trend for more than a year, acknowledging that most countries have already returned to life before COVID-19.