WHO Declares End To COVID Emergency, Urges Lifting of Related Travel Restrictions

by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 3:05 PM ET, Fri May 5, 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to the COVID-19 global health emergency on Friday.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the pandemic "has been on a downward trend" for more than a year.

Among the temporary recommendations issued by the WHO Director-General is that member states continue to lift COVID-19 international travel-related health measures, based on risk assessments, and not require any proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a prerequisite for international travel. 

The news comes just days after the U.S. government announced it would end COVID-19 vaccination requirements for international travelers and federal workers on May 11.

U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman said the move to "lift the vaccine requirement eases a significant entry barrier for many global travelers, moving our industry and country forward."

According to WHO’s Coronavirus Dashboard, the cumulative cases worldwide now stand at 765,222,932, with 6,921,614 deaths.

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