July 19 will be the first anniversary of what Conservative government Prime Minister Boris Johnson dubbed “Freedom Day”, as he tore up almost all COVID safety measures. Since then, almost 45,000 more have died from COVID.
North Korea suggested Friday its COVID-19 outbreak began in people who had contact with balloons flown from South Korea — a highly questionable claim that appeared to be an attempt to hold its rival responsible amid increasing tensions.
As the World Health Organization meets on Thursday to evaluate whether monkeypox constitutes an international emergency, its highest form of alert, here is what that could mean and what other health emergencies have been called in the past.