Exactly one year ago, during a cramped media briefing that would look out of place today, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 was a pandemic. Some experts have decried a global complacency to address COVID-19 as a pandemic from the beginning. Countries unprepared after WHO declaration of a global health emergencyWHO declared a pandemic over a month after declaring COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020. COVID-19 was the sixth epidemic to be declared a PHEIC or global health emergency under the World Health Organization’s 2005 International Health Regulations. Experts have criticised governments for their lack of preparation following the WHO declaration of COVID-19 as a global health emergency.

Source: The Nation March 11, 2021 11:15 UTC