The head of the World Health Organization declared on Wednesday that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is near, with global death rates at their lowest point since the new coronavirus first started to spread in March 2020.
However, experts point out that the death rate in the US is mainly stable and has not yet reached its lowest point.
Over 11,000 people died from COVID during the week of September 5 through September 11 in various parts of the world. According to the WHO, that represented a 22% decrease from the prior week. The previous week’s weekly case totals decreased by 28% to about 3.1 million.
During a briefing on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared, “We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic.” Although the end is not in sight just yet, it is close.
Contrarily, according to CBS News, there are currently 478 deaths per day on average in the United States, up from 168 per day on average in July 2021 and 258 per day on average in June 2022.
The U.S. COVID case counts are trending somewhat differently; they are currently at 73,000 per day, a 14% decrease over the previous two weeks.
According to Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, new bivalent booster shots that target both the primary virus strain and the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants may offer more comprehensive and long-lasting protection against serious illness. Additionally, it might provide a better defense against contamination and spread.
According to Jha’s statement from last week, the US has experienced “an important shift in our fight against the virus.”
Despite the promising outlook, Tedros did not formally declare the public health emergency to be over.
On Wednesday, the WHO recommended six crucial steps to assist nations in containing outbreaks. These consist of ongoing examinations, medical care, and vaccinations.
Tedros warned that if these efforts were to slow down, there might be “more variants, more deaths, more disruption, and more uncertainty.”
Infection control in healthcare facilities, combating false information, and effective public communication are additional crucial actions.
A marathon runner doesn’t stop when they see the finish line, according to Tedros. “She exerts all of her remaining energy and runs faster. We, too, must. The finish line is visible. We’re in a position to succeed. The worst time to stop running, though, is right now.
