For the past two years the World Health Organization has been warning of coronavirus, declaring that the virus that Americans were watching from afar as it originated in China, originated in Europe and has openly invaded the West Coast, in fact, a global epidemic. .
"We have sounded the bell," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO, said at a news conference in March 2020.
At that time, few could imagine how the world would change. Now, after a period of change that saw business, education, the economy and the unimaginable suspension as authorities enforce homecoming, borders and hygiene standards, the world is struggling to keep up with the epidemic - its seemingly lasting and perhaps better outcome losses: loss of life , loss of income and loss of trust.
"This Friday marks two years since we said the spread of COVID-19 could be seen as a pandemic," Tedros told a news conference this week, adding a shocking review of how far the world has come. "As a reminder, we conducted the study six weeks after declaring COVID-19 to be a global health emergency - with less than 100 cases and no deaths outside of China. Two years later, more than 6 million people have died."
In the US, the death toll is close to one million. But research shows that the actual death toll worldwide could be three times higher than the official figures due to data inquiries and limited surveys.
President Joe Biden made an effort to paint a post-epidemic America, which recently encouraged Americans to return to their offices in a covert effort to help the economy, which had been hit by the epidemic and is now shaken by the war in Ukraine.
"It's time for America to get back to work and fill our big cities and people," Biden said in his Union address. "People who work from home can feel safe and begin to return to their offices."
He also called for an end to school closures, which sent parents wanting to study far away in many places during the violence.
"Our schools are open," Biden said. "Let's keep it that way."
Hope was well received in the US, which not only carried heavy burdens and deaths but also watched as the virus leased its culture among those who adhered to (sometimes changed) scientific guidelines and those who doubted the virus. harmful effects. People come to look at provinces, businesses, celebrities, politicians, athletes and even neighbors differently, depending on whether they accept or reject things like closures, masks and policies.
Now, coronavirus infections and mortality have declined in the US and around the world after waves when the deadly delta diversity disrupted the health care system and the highly contagious omicron variation sent higher cases than ever before. And many governments are eager to reduce the risk. In the US, more than 90% of people live in areas where they can stop wearing masks indoors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While many people are eager to look to the future beyond the coronavirus, some say that the world is about to slow down - and look for a virus that continues to kill an average of more than 7,000 people in a given day.
"While reported cases and deaths are declining worldwide, and several countries have lifted borders, the epidemic is far from over - and it will not end anywhere," Tedros said.
While U.S. officials cite "widespread human insecurity" during the relaxation of mitigation measures, experts are quick to point out that insecurity in both vaccinations and infections is over, and measures may need to be re-used in the future. And there are always fears that when the virus spreads for a long time there is a chance of new and more deadly strains.
Keri Althoff, a epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, says Americans should keep in mind that there may be times when masks are needed - even within the next year, which may be possible.
“We are definitely not out of the woods yet. And I think we should continue to be vigilant over the next few years and continue to adapt, so that we can build this defensive figure enough to control the virus and reach a point where the public agrees to control it. with minor daily disruptions in our lives, ”says Althoff.
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