Forgotten but not gone: Covid keeps killing, five years on
Covid Still Takes Lives: Five Years Later, It’s Not Over Yet
Five years after COVID-19 began changing the world, the virus continues to infect and take lives worldwide, but at much lower rates than during the peak of the pandemic.
‘Still with us.’
Since December 2019, there have been about 777 million reported Covid cases and over seven million deaths, as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the actual numbers are much higher. The pandemic severely impacted healthcare systems, disrupted economies, and forced many countries into lockdowns. In the latter half of 2022, infection and death rates dropped due to increased immunity from vaccines and previous infections and the virus mutating to a less severe form. In May 2023, the WHO announced that the emergency phase of the pandemic had ended. Experts now believe the virus has become more endemic, with occasional outbreaks similar to the flu, though not as seasonal. It has also faded from public attention. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s pandemic preparedness director, mentioned last month that people want to forget about COVID-19, viewing it as a past event due to its traumatic impact. From October to November last year, over 3,000 COVID-related deaths were reported in 27 countries, with more than 95% of official deaths occurring between 2020 and 2022.
Variants
Since the Omicron variant appeared in November 2021, various subvariants have taken turns being the primary strain worldwide. Currently, the most prevalent is the Omicron variant KP.3.1.1. The XEC variant is the only one being monitored by the WHO. Still, the agency considers its global health risk to be low. So far, none of the Omicron subvariants have shown to be significantly more severe than the others, although some experts caution that future strains might be more contagious or dangerous.
Vaccines and treatments
Vaccines for COVID-19 were created quickly and have been very effective against the virus, with over 13.6 billion doses given out globally. However, wealthier countries secured a large share of the initial doses, leading to unequal access worldwide. Some countries still recommend booster shots for the JN.1 Omicron subvariant, especially for at-risk groups like older people. Despite this, the WHO reports that many people, including older adults, have not received booster shots. In fact, by 2024, the booster uptake among healthcare workers was less than one percent, according to the WHO.
Long Covid
Many people are dealing with long-term COVID-19, a condition that is not fully understood and can last for months after the first infection. Common signs include fatigue, confusion, and difficulty breathing. The WHO reported last month that around six percent of those infected with the coronavirus develop long-term COVID-19, noting that it still significantly impacts healthcare systems. There is still much to learn about long-term COVID-19, and currently, no specific tests or treatments are available. Having multiple Covid infections may raise the risk of developing this condition.
Future pandemics?
Scientists have cautioned that another pandemic will eventually happen, urging everyone to learn from COVID-19 and prepare for the future. Recently, there has been increased attention on bird flu (H5N1), especially after the first human death from the virus was reported in the United States. The patient in Louisiana had pre-existing health issues and got H5N1 after contact with infected birds, according to US health officials, who noted that there is no proof of the virus spreading between people. Since late 2021, WHO member countries have been working on a groundbreaking pandemic prevention and response treaty. However, reaching an agreement has been challenging as the May deadline approaches, with a significant divide between Western nations and poorer countries concerned about being overlooked during the next pandemic. The Covid pandemic also led to a rise in doubts and false information about vaccines. Experts have expressed concern about the possibility of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for health secretary, leading the US response to future pandemic threats in the coming four years.
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