Is COVID officially over? No. It might look like we have won, seeing as the majority have stopped paying attention to the pandemic and covid-19 cases. But it's not over until it's over. So, the plausible answer to this question is not yet, and here's why:
No One Really Knows What Must Happen for it to be Over.
March 11th, 2020. This was the day the World health organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic following 4,291 deaths and 118,000 cases in 114 countries. And while the start of the pandemic is determined, identifying when it ends builds a conundrum.
It is an assessment wrought with political, scientific, and social influences, each spicing the other to form a complex agenda without a definite ending. Think about it:
Socially,
A pandemic is considered over if society is willing to accept that it is over like we might have been in recent months. And by people returning to what is regarded as the new normal pattern of living, we can agree that the pandemic is indeed over.
Yet, remnants of covid-19 cases make specific groups of people argue that COVID is not officially over. For instance, COVID overhaulers are still dealing with the remaining effects of the viral infection.
The evolution of the viral infection into new variants like the delta and the omicron variants also fails to strengthen the position of individuals that claim COVID is officially over. Look at cases where businesses claim coverage for losses resulting from the pandemic.
Despite Federal courts across the nation rejecting the plaintiff's claims seeking compensation, it is a sign that the looming effects of COVID-19 are still with us. And when asked if the pandemic was over, 51% of Americans said COVID isn't over yet.
Correspondingly, people are making decisions based on where they fall politically.
Politically,
The Biden administration believes that, as a nation, we have made significant strides in containing the spread of the virus and its deadly effects. COVID deaths have reduced by almost 90%, and most states have expired their state of emergency health orders.
As such, the federal coronavirus emergency is set to expire on the 11th of May. However, the increasing vaccination rates and antiviral therapy and the reduced mortality rates should not blindly deter the nation from accommodating the effects of the pandemic.
This is why the Biden administration still champions COVID funding. But what do the scientists think?
Scientifically,
Scientists are just as divided in the matter. Eric Topol, an epidemiologist, believes the pandemic is over because it is in its endemic stage. In this stage, a virus remains present, but it acts more like the flu than a viral infection that kills thousands of people at a go.
An endemic outbreak is also more prevalent in regions or countries and not worldwide. So if Topol's opinion is to be believed, it would mean that mutations of the COVID-19 virus, like the unexpected delta variant later followed by the omicron variant, might not pose a significant threat in the future.
The availability of vaccinations, vaccine boosters, and stronger immunity also give us a fighting chance against COVID mutations. Still, he leaves the possibility of a mutation coming into play, one that is antigenically distant from our immune system or severely affects those with a compromised immune system.
But overall, there will be fewer COVID-19 cases of adverse infections. On the other hand, Dr. David Dowdy, another epidemiologist, thinks the pandemic is in a new phase, one that is still killing at least 300 people daily in the US.
So, while it might no longer be the most significant health issue in the country, it is still a matter of concern.
According to WHO,
WHO stated in January that the pandemic is still a public health concern, although it has reached its turning point. The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee (IHR EC) for COVID-19 stated that the pandemic has not yet reached the threshold needed to determine that it is officially over.
So, while vaccines provide that severe illness and death rates reduce, the overall effect of the pandemic is not good. There is cause for concern in places where vaccination rates are low. COVID funding is also straining taxes and health systems, making spreading vaccinations and antiviral therapy more challenging.
COVID-19 cases in regions with little access to mitigation tools like vaccinations show a prevalent risk inequality. And if that continues to exist and people continue to die, COVID might never be officially over.
Global gaps where immunity to the virus is not assured also allow the occurrence of other vital mutations that we might not be ready for. In addition, the compliance rate with mitigation strategies is declining as people continuously seek to return to what is normal.
To that effect, there is an unpredictable pattern that makes it more challenging to develop a specific date when COVID-19 can be officially over. Notwithstanding, if and when the declaration of the COVID emergency is called to an end, it will remain clear, according to WHO, that COVID-19 is not necessarily over.
As Dr. Tedros, the Director General at WHO, said:
"My message is clear – do not underestimate this virus, it has and will continue to surprise us, and it will continue to kill unless we do more to get health tools to people that need them and to comprehensively tackle misinformation."
Well, is COVID officially over?
Not really. Granted, human behavior is not a reliable determinant of conclusively determining whether the pandemic is over. Political affiliations are too biased to act as a relying force of reason in deciding whether the pandemic is over.
And since scientists cannot seem to come to a compromise, the directive of WHO stands to be the apparent option to follow. And WHO believes that the COVID-19 virus still carries the potential to deliver unexpected viral activities with severe consequences.
So, in conclusion, the pandemic is far from over. But not all hope is lost. Since the pandemic is at its inflection point, it is possible to find that we are soon in a state that's no longer identified with a global health emergency status.
And PS: if you are wondering how to navigate the intricacies of offering health plans to your employees concerning COVID cases, reach us at Zupnick & Associates.
No One Really Knows What Must Happen for it to be Over.
March 11th, 2020. This was the day the World health organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic following 4,291 deaths and 118,000 cases in 114 countries. And while the start of the pandemic is determined, identifying when it ends builds a conundrum.
It is an assessment wrought with political, scientific, and social influences, each spicing the other to form a complex agenda without a definite ending. Think about it:
Socially,
A pandemic is considered over if society is willing to accept that it is over like we might have been in recent months. And by people returning to what is regarded as the new normal pattern of living, we can agree that the pandemic is indeed over.
Yet, remnants of covid-19 cases make specific groups of people argue that COVID is not officially over. For instance, COVID overhaulers are still dealing with the remaining effects of the viral infection.
The evolution of the viral infection into new variants like the delta and the omicron variants also fails to strengthen the position of individuals that claim COVID is officially over. Look at cases where businesses claim coverage for losses resulting from the pandemic.
Despite Federal courts across the nation rejecting the plaintiff's claims seeking compensation, it is a sign that the looming effects of COVID-19 are still with us. And when asked if the pandemic was over, 51% of Americans said COVID isn't over yet.
Correspondingly, people are making decisions based on where they fall politically.
Politically,
The Biden administration believes that, as a nation, we have made significant strides in containing the spread of the virus and its deadly effects. COVID deaths have reduced by almost 90%, and most states have expired their state of emergency health orders.
As such, the federal coronavirus emergency is set to expire on the 11th of May. However, the increasing vaccination rates and antiviral therapy and the reduced mortality rates should not blindly deter the nation from accommodating the effects of the pandemic.
This is why the Biden administration still champions COVID funding. But what do the scientists think?
Scientifically,
Scientists are just as divided in the matter. Eric Topol, an epidemiologist, believes the pandemic is over because it is in its endemic stage. In this stage, a virus remains present, but it acts more like the flu than a viral infection that kills thousands of people at a go.
An endemic outbreak is also more prevalent in regions or countries and not worldwide. So if Topol's opinion is to be believed, it would mean that mutations of the COVID-19 virus, like the unexpected delta variant later followed by the omicron variant, might not pose a significant threat in the future.
The availability of vaccinations, vaccine boosters, and stronger immunity also give us a fighting chance against COVID mutations. Still, he leaves the possibility of a mutation coming into play, one that is antigenically distant from our immune system or severely affects those with a compromised immune system.
But overall, there will be fewer COVID-19 cases of adverse infections. On the other hand, Dr. David Dowdy, another epidemiologist, thinks the pandemic is in a new phase, one that is still killing at least 300 people daily in the US.
So, while it might no longer be the most significant health issue in the country, it is still a matter of concern.
According to WHO,
WHO stated in January that the pandemic is still a public health concern, although it has reached its turning point. The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee (IHR EC) for COVID-19 stated that the pandemic has not yet reached the threshold needed to determine that it is officially over.
So, while vaccines provide that severe illness and death rates reduce, the overall effect of the pandemic is not good. There is cause for concern in places where vaccination rates are low. COVID funding is also straining taxes and health systems, making spreading vaccinations and antiviral therapy more challenging.
COVID-19 cases in regions with little access to mitigation tools like vaccinations show a prevalent risk inequality. And if that continues to exist and people continue to die, COVID might never be officially over.
Global gaps where immunity to the virus is not assured also allow the occurrence of other vital mutations that we might not be ready for. In addition, the compliance rate with mitigation strategies is declining as people continuously seek to return to what is normal.
To that effect, there is an unpredictable pattern that makes it more challenging to develop a specific date when COVID-19 can be officially over. Notwithstanding, if and when the declaration of the COVID emergency is called to an end, it will remain clear, according to WHO, that COVID-19 is not necessarily over.
As Dr. Tedros, the Director General at WHO, said:
"My message is clear – do not underestimate this virus, it has and will continue to surprise us, and it will continue to kill unless we do more to get health tools to people that need them and to comprehensively tackle misinformation."
Well, is COVID officially over?
Not really. Granted, human behavior is not a reliable determinant of conclusively determining whether the pandemic is over. Political affiliations are too biased to act as a relying force of reason in deciding whether the pandemic is over.
And since scientists cannot seem to come to a compromise, the directive of WHO stands to be the apparent option to follow. And WHO believes that the COVID-19 virus still carries the potential to deliver unexpected viral activities with severe consequences.
So, in conclusion, the pandemic is far from over. But not all hope is lost. Since the pandemic is at its inflection point, it is possible to find that we are soon in a state that's no longer identified with a global health emergency status.
And PS: if you are wondering how to navigate the intricacies of offering health plans to your employees concerning COVID cases, reach us at Zupnick & Associates.
Is COVID Officially Over?
Elton Mwangi
Author:
