Search for answers or browse our knowledge base.
Are we still in a COVID-19 pandemic?
Yes. The World Health Organization’s December 2024 epidemiological update states:
“Now, we enter the sixth year of the pandemic” (pg 34)
www.who.int/publications/m/item/covid-19-epidemiological-update—24-december-2024
“While the U.S. remains in a federal public-health emergency free zone, a leader at the World Health Organization voiced concerns on X (formally known as Twitter) about where the world stands at this stage in the pandemic. In a post, Marian Van Kerkhove, M.D. said COVID-19 is “still a global health threat.”
“It’s still a pandemic causing far too many (re)infections, hospitalizations, deaths and long covid when tools exist to prevent them,” she wrote. “Cases and hospitalisations for #COVID19 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.””
www.salon.com/2024/01/04/leader-says-19-is-still-a-pandemic
Long🧵 #COVID19 and where we are. I’m worried.
— Maria Van Kerkhove (@mvankerkhove) December 31, 2023
We are entering the 5th year of the pandemic and we are certainly in a different phase. This phase is marked by an evolving virus (with the XBB and BA.2 sublineages circulating and JN.1 becoming dominant).https://t.co/d47EbEF4ea
Why do some people believe that the pandemic is over?
In a memo from a public opinion research and consulting firm, Impact Research, dated Feb 24, 2022, the Biden administration was advised to declare the crisis phase of COVID over and push for feeling and acting more normal, and to stop talking about restrictions and the unknown future ahead. The memo is available at docs.house.gov.
This assessment did not reflect polling at the time, but was implemented anyway.
Dem political operatives are wrong.
— Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran) March 1, 2022
Polling shows the majority of Americans, & an overwhelming majority of Democrats and communities of color:
– Don't think the pandemic is over
– Think we still need to slow COVID spread
– Support measures like masks pic.twitter.com/VS0HOUHilR
On May 11, 2023, the US Federal Government declared the end of the Public Health Emergency and the National State of Emergency. This ended federal coverage of COVID testing, treatment, and vaccines. This does not equate to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is an ongoing global situation. More from Clevelend Clinic on this.