COVID-19 VIRUS STILL A THREAT - WHO

THE COVID-19 pandemic may be over but the virus remains a global health threat, the World Health Organisation, WHO, has declared. The WHO says although the pandemic is in a different phase due to lower impact, it nevertheless remains a pandemic.

On May 5, 2023, the WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic to be over, based on the significant decline in cases, deaths, and pressure on healthcare systems observed globally.

However, the WHO emphasises that COVID-19 remains a global threat and requires continued monitoring and surveillance.

The technical lead for the COVID-19 response at the WHO, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, said COVID-19 is still a pandemic threat because it is causing too many infections and reinfections, hospitalisations, and deaths.

Van Kerkhove, who disclosed this in a post on X (formally Twitter) said, “It’s still a pandemic causing far too many (re)infections, hospitalisations, deaths, and long covid when tools exist to prevent them.

“Cases and hospitalisations for COVID-19 have been on the rise for months; hospitals in many countries are burdened and overwhelmed from COVID and other pathogens, and deaths are on the rise.”

Van Kerkhove expressed worry that many people think COVID-19 is no longer something to worry about and warned that complacency was dangerous.

“I’m worried that too many think COVID-19 is not something to worry about, that they need a new variant with a Greek letter to take this virus seriously. When we need to assign a Greek letter, we will do so.”

Further, she said, “We can’t forget those who died alone and the people dying nowthousands each week. The hundreds of thousands in hospital right now fighting for their lives. Those suffering from long COVID struggling every day.”

The message comes as JN.1, a virus variant in the Pirola clan, became the most dominant strain in the US, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.)

While the COVID-19 pandemic may be over, the consensus is that the virus remains a global threat, and the WHO, which has called for continued vigilance, said adherence to public health measures, including vaccination, remains crucial to keep the virus under control and protect vulnerable populations.