Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.

The World Health Organization says it's ending the global emergency phase of the COVID-19

pandemic.

Enpures Nareed Isaman has more.

It's been more than three years and three months since WHO Director General Tedros

Adem Gipriasis declared that the COVID-19 outbreak was a, quote, public health emergency

of international concern.

It was a largely symbolic move, but also a powerful way of mobilizing the world's resources,

as the virus went on to cause nearly seven million reported deaths worldwide, with the

actual tolls as Tedros, probably closer to 20 million.

Now, with mortality much lower in immunity higher, Tedros says it's time to begin a new

phase of managing COVID as a chronic problem.

But Tedros also has this warning.

This virus is here to stay.

It's still killing.

And it's still changing.

The worst thing any country could do, he says, is to let down its guard.

Nareed Isaman NPR News.

Director Rochelle Wollensky is stepping down as head of the CDC.

She helped lead the Biden administration's response during the pandemic.

President Biden praised the 54-year-old's job saying she saved lives, but her tenure

was chaotic, with high profile departures plus controversy over masks, vaccines, and

...