WHO ends COVID-19 global emergency; CDC director resigns

The World Health Organization on Friday downgraded its assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying there is no longer a global emergency. WHO initially declared COVID-19 a global emergency in January 2020. The end of the worldwide emergency declaration does not mean the virus is no longer a health threat, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He acknowledged that many countries have returned to pre-pandemic life.

Why did the CDC director resign? Dr. Rochelle Walensky submitted her resignation on Friday, saying the end of the COVID-19 pandemic was a good time to transition out of her position. The United States’ COVID-19 public health emergency order expires next week. Walensky’s last day will be June 30.

Dig deeper: Read Emma Freire’s report in WORLD Magazine about how experts are reassessing the sharp divide over COVID-19 vaccine mandates.