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Geneva, 3 May 2023– WHO today issued an updated COVID-19 Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP) 2023-2025. This is WHO’s fourth strategic plan for COVID-19.
The document is a guide for countries on how to manage COVID-19 over the next two years in the transition from an emergency phase to a longer-term, sustained response.
Although we are in a much stronger position in facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is here to stay and countries need to manage it alongside other infectious diseases.
The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on COVID-19 meets for the 15th time tomorrow, 4 May 2023, to advise the WHO Director-General on whether the pandemic is still a public health emergency of international concern: the SPRP 2023-25 will be useful in guiding countries in managing COVID-19, whether or not the pandemic remains a public health emergency of international concern.
Excerpt from the plan:
From emergency response to long-term COVID-19 disease management: sustaining gains made during the COVID-19 pandemic
Overview
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its fourth year, surveillance has declined dramatically. While weekly reported cases and deaths are at the lowest level since the pandemic began, millions continue to be infected or re-infected with SARS-CoV-2 and thousands of people are dying each week. At this pivotal moment, WHO has updated its Strategic Preparedness and Response plan for 2023-2025. The updated two-year strategy builds on the objectives of the 2022 SPRP and supports countries as they are working to transition their critical emergency response activities to longer-term sustained COVID-19 disease prevention, control and management.
