The World Health Organization (WHO) is allegedly close to declaring the end of the coronavirus pandemic. Because after a series of mutations, it no longer poses such a danger.

 This was stated by virologist, president of the Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa) Giorgio Palu in an interview with Corriere della Sera.

 "It is necessary to declare the end of the pandemic. I believe that the World Health Organization is close to this, but the delay is due to the balance of caution," said Palu.

 He noted that the circulating strain of "Arkturus" often causes colds and conjunctivitis in children.

 "It has a very short incubation period, two days compared to the initial 7-8, which accelerates its transmission, but at the same time the virus stops in the upper respiratory tract without penetrating the lungs, due to which the disease proceeds in a mild or asymptomatic form," he said Palu.

 According to the virologist, the need to vaccinate remains only for risk groups, including the elderly.

 "We are waiting for the official signal of the end (of the COVID-19 pandemic - ed.). Of course, we live in a context that, from a virological point of view, is definitely post-pandemic. Data on mortality, morbidity, Italian and international hospitalizations, which are constantly decreasing, are also they are talking about it," Palu added.

 We will remind, as WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus previously stated, the organization will be able to announce the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world by the end of 2023.

 We should add that US President Joe Biden signed the law that cancels the state of emergency introduced in the country more than three years ago in connection with the spread of COVID-19.