The World Health Organization (WHO) said Covid-19 is not a “global health emergency” now. This is a big step to end the pandemic. The virus killed more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021. But on 24 April, it killed just over 3,500 people.
The head of the WHO thinks about seven million people died in the pandemic. But he said the true number is maybe closer to 20 million. The virus is still a big threat. Dr Tedros, head of WHO, said countries should not think Covid-19 is not a problem now.
The WHO first said Covid-19 was a big problem in January 2020. Now, each country must decide how to deal with Covid-19. Vaccines helped a lot in the pandemic. The WHO said 13 billion vaccine doses were given. But many countries still need more vaccines.
The US and UK are learning to live with the virus. They stopped many tests and rules. Dr Mike Ryan from the WHO said the danger is still there. He said pandemics end when the next pandemic begins.
Original news source: Covid global health emergency is over, WHO says (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Vocabulary Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. The teacher writes several key vocabulary words from the article on slips of paper. One student from each team comes up to the front of the class and picks a word. They must act out the word without speaking, and their teammates try to guess the word. The team with the most correct guesses wins.
– Sentence Scramble
Instructions: The teacher writes 5-6 simple sentences based on the article, then mixes up the words in each sentence. Students work in pairs to unscramble the sentences and rewrite them correctly. The first pair to complete all the sentences wins.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What did the World Health Organization say about Covid-19?
2. How many people did the virus kill per week in January 2021?
3. How many people did the virus kill on 24 April?
4. How many people does the head of WHO think died in the pandemic?
5. When did the WHO first say Covid-19 was a big problem?
6. What helped a lot in the pandemic?
7. How many vaccine doses were given?
8. What did Dr. Mike Ryan from the WHO say about the danger of the virus?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Covid-19 is not a (1)________ now. This is a big step to end the pandemic. The virus killed more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021. But on 24 April, it killed just over 3,500 people.
The head of the WHO thinks about seven million people died in the pandemic. But he said the true number is maybe closer to 20 million. The virus is still a big (2)________. Dr Tedros, head of WHO, said countries should not think Covid-19 is not a problem now.
The WHO first said Covid-19 was a big problem in January 2020. Now, each country must decide how to deal with Covid-19. Vaccines helped a lot in the pandemic. The WHO said 13 billion vaccine doses were (3)________. But many countries still need more vaccines.
The US and UK are learning to live with the virus. They stopped many tests and (4)________. Dr Mike Ryan from the WHO said the danger is still there. He said pandemics end when the next pandemic (5)________.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is Covid-19?
2. Do you know what a pandemic is?
3. Is Covid-19 a big problem now?
4. Did many people get sick from Covid-19?
5. How do we stop Covid-19?
6. What is a vaccine?
7. Did you get a vaccine?
8. Do all countries have vaccines?
9. What is the World Health Organization?
10. Do you know who Dr. Tedros is?
11. What did Dr. Mike Ryan say about pandemics?
12. Are the US and UK changing how they deal with Covid-19?
13. How can we stay safe from Covid-19?
14. What can we do to help other countries get vaccines?
15. Do you think Covid-19 will ever go away completely?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. pandemic
2. emergency
3. threat
4. vaccines
5. doses
6. tests
7. rules
8. danger
Shuffled Meanings:
A) Checking for a disease or problem in a person’s body
B) Something that can cause harm or trouble
C) A big problem that needs fast action to help people
D) A chance of something bad happening
E) Instructions that people must follow
F) A very bad situation that affects many people around the world
G) The amount of medicine given at one time
H) Shots given to people to help protect them from diseases
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What did the World Health Organization say about Covid-19?
(a) It is a global health emergency
(b) It is not a global health emergency
(c) It is a small problem
(d) It is not dangerous
2. How many people did the virus kill per week in January 2021?
(a) 3,500
(b) 7 million
(c) 20 million
(d) 100,000
3. On 24 April, how many people did the virus kill?
(a) 100,000
(b) 20 million
(c) 7 million
(d) 3,500
4. Who is the head of the WHO?
(a) Dr Mike Ryan
(b) Dr Tedros
(c) Dr Smith
(d) Dr Johnson
5. When did the WHO first say Covid-19 was a big problem?
(a) January 2020
(b) January 2021
(c) April 2021
(d) April 2020
6. How many vaccine doses were given?
(a) 13 million
(b) 20 million
(c) 7 million
(d) 13 billion
7. What did the US and UK stop doing?
(a) Giving vaccines
(b) Testing and rules
(c) Helping other countries
(d) Talking about the virus
8. When did Dr Mike Ryan say pandemics end?
(a) When the virus is gone
(b) When everyone is vaccinated
(c) When the next pandemic begins
(d) When there are no more deaths
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Covid-19 is a global health emergency now.
2. The virus killed 100,000 people per week in January 2021.
3. On 24 April, the virus killed more than 10,000 people.
4. The head of the WHO thinks about 20 million people died in the pandemic.
5. The WHO first said Covid-19 was a big problem in January 2021.
6. Vaccines did not help in the pandemic.
7. The US and UK stopped many tests and rules.
8. Dr Mike Ryan said pandemics end when the next pandemic begins.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What did the World Health Organization say about Covid-19?
2. How many people did the virus kill in January 2021?
3. How many people does the head of the WHO think died in the pandemic?
4. Are vaccines helpful in the pandemic?
5. What did Dr Mike Ryan from the WHO say about pandemics?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What did the World Health Organization say about Covid-19?
The World Health Organization said Covid-19 is not a “global health emergency” now.
2. How many people did the virus kill per week in January 2021?
The virus killed more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021.
3. How many people did the virus kill on 24 April?
On 24 April, the virus killed just over 3,500 people.
4. How many people does the head of WHO think died in the pandemic?
The head of WHO thinks about seven million people died in the pandemic.
5. When did the WHO first say Covid-19 was a big problem?
The WHO first said Covid-19 was a big problem in January 2020.
6. What helped a lot in the pandemic?
Vaccines helped a lot in the pandemic.
7. How many vaccine doses were given?
The WHO said 13 billion vaccine doses were given.
8. What did Dr. Mike Ryan from the WHO say about the danger of the virus?
Dr. Mike Ryan said the danger is still there and pandemics end when the next pandemic begins.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
1. global health emergency
2. threat
3. given
4. rules
5. begins
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. pandemic
Answer: F) A very bad situation that affects many people around the world
2. emergency
Answer: C) A big problem that needs fast action to help people
3. threat
Answer: B) Something that can cause harm or trouble
4. vaccines
Answer: H) Shots given to people to help protect them from diseases
5. doses
Answer: G) The amount of medicine given at one time
6. tests
Answer: A) Checking for a disease or problem in a person’s body
7. rules
Answer: E) Instructions that people must follow
8. danger
Answer: D) A chance of something bad happening
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What did the World Health Organization say about Covid-19?
Answer: (b) It is not a global health emergency
2. How many people did the virus kill per week in January 2021?
Answer: (d) 100,000
3. On 24 April, how many people did the virus kill?
Answer: (d) 3,500
4. Who is the head of the WHO?
Answer: (b) Dr Tedros
5. When did the WHO first say Covid-19 was a big problem?
Answer: (a) January 2020
6. How many vaccine doses were given?
Answer: (d) 13 billion
7. What did the US and UK stop doing?
Answer: (b) Testing and rules
8. When did Dr Mike Ryan say pandemics end?
Answer: (c) When the next pandemic begins
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Covid-19 is a global health emergency now.
Answer: False
2. The virus killed 100,000 people per week in January 2021.
Answer: True
3. On 24 April, the virus killed more than 10,000 people.
Answer: False
4. The head of the WHO thinks about 20 million people died in the pandemic.
Answer: False
5. The WHO first said Covid-19 was a big problem in January 2021.
Answer: False
6. Vaccines did not help in the pandemic.
Answer: False
7. The US and UK stopped many tests and rules.
Answer: True
8. Dr Mike Ryan said pandemics end when the next pandemic begins.
Answer: True
Go back to questions ⇧
