In a historic move that can be considered as a new phase in the world’s health care, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 pandemic over. This declaration is made at a time when the number of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths have been falling across the globe in the past few months, and more people have been vaccinated for the virus and the treatment for the disease has also improved.
The decision to change the status of the WHO from a pandemic is due to the current nature of the virus and the ability of the world to deal with it. Since COVID-19 is still present throughout the world, it does not qualify as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern anymore. The virus is now present in most parts of the globe, and this has made it to become an endemic disease meaning that it is always there but it does not cause severe strain on the health care systems or even interfere with the normal activities of the people.
This achievement has been reached more than four years after COVID-19 was labelled as a pandemic in March 2020. Since then, the virus has affected hundreds of millions of people across the globe and has been fatal to millions. It has reorganized societies, economies, and people’s behavior in a way that has not been observed in decades.
The lifting of the pandemic status does not imply the end of COVID-19 either. The authorities underline that the virus will persist and change, and that is why people should be cautious and ready for the changes. But, vaccination and recovery from the previous infection, coupled with available treatments, have significantly lessened the virus’s effect.
Other countries of the world are now changing their policies in accordance with the WHO’s statement. Most are reducing or removing the last COVID-19 measures including mask mandates and travel restrictions. Nevertheless, the health officials persistently encourage people to follow some elementary measures especially those at high risk.
The world economy is projected to experience a positive growth from the end of the pandemic especially in the travel and hospitality sectors. But economic experts predict that the effects of the pandemic on the economy such as the supply chain break and shifts in working hours will be felt even in the future years.
Scientists are declaring the end of the pandemic as a success story of international collaboration and ingenuity. The quick development of vaccines and cure for COVID-19 has been termed as one of the most significant scientific accomplishments ever made. Some of these lessons learned are already being used to enhance the world’s readiness for the next health crisis.
But the end of the pandemic also leads to the discussion of its effects on different countries and communities. Health equity advocates have urged the society to sustain the fight against the inequalities in the health care systems that have been exposed by the pandemic.
With the world gradually recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasis is being made on the long-term effects of the disease and the so-called ‘long COVID. ‘ Studies on these effects and possible cure are ongoing in various health institutions globally.
The end of COVID-19 pandemic is a major event in human history. Although the situation is still critical, there is a hope for the further gradual normalization of the situation and the possibility of using the experience of this global pandemic to strengthen the health care systems and societies.
