Abstract

A new virus named SARS-CoV-2 emerged in the 21st century, causing a devastating disease named the Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19). The World Health Organization (WHO) declared this to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30th January 2020 and characterized the outbreak as a pandemic on 11th March 2020. On 5th May 2023, the WHO Emergency Committee on COVID-19 recommended that given the disease was by now well established and ongoing, it no longer fits the definition of a PHEIC. Since the end of the pandemic, there have been sporadic cases. However, from mid-February 2025, global SARS-CoV-2 activity has been increasing, in countries, areas and territories across the world. The WHO advised all Member States to continue monitoring the situation and applying a risk-based, integrated approach to manage COVID-19. Since the end of PHEIC in May 2023, countries have adopted diverse approaches to manage future threat of COVID-19, either by integrating COVID-19 activities into existing respiratory disease programmes, or continuing targeted vertical interventions. Having learnt lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, NITI Aayog in India constituted an Expert Group, which prepared a report on “Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response – A Framework for Action”. The Member States of the WHO are in the process of preparing a new accord, which would be a complement to other initiatives, including the International Health Regulations (IHR). The World Health Assembly is considering targeted amendments to the IHR. Both the IHR 2005 and the new instrument are expected to play central roles in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response in the future.

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