The transition from the acute phase of COVID-19: Working towards a paradigm shift for pandemic preparedness and response in the WHO European Region

Overview

The lifting of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern status by WHO on 5 May 2023, signaled the start of a new phase of the global pandemic’s response and recovery – during which the WHO Regional Office for Europe will shift towards a longer-term programmatic approach to COVID-19. While the first steps towards recovery from the pandemic have been reported in the European Region multiple challenges remain. This regional transition plan outlines a comprehensive roadmap for transitioning from the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic towards a sustained response and recovery in order to strategically and sustainably invest in resilient health systems able to respond to emergencies and maintain essential services at all times. It is the moment to invest and sustain the gains made during the pandemic response and apply the lessons learned of this pandemic and other recent health emergencies, to increase the resilience of our health systems against future epidemics, pandemics and other shocks.