The Covid pandemic is no longer a global emergency, according to leaders at the World Health Organization (WHO) — a symbolic moment that the virus's reign over the world is near its end.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the United Nations organization, said Friday: 'It's with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency.'

However, WHO officials say the virus remains a threat and the pandemic persists. While the virus poses a minimal threat to the developed world, it remains a danger in other areas.

It comes just as the US plans to do away with the pandemic. The final remnants of the pandemic restrictions are set to end Thursday when the nation's public health emergency will have officially run its course.

The pandemic, which triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended the global economy, killed at least 7million people across the world. At the briefing Friday, Dr Tedros said the pandemic is likely responsible for around 20million deaths.