Pandemic is not over: We just decided that we can pay that price in exchange for normality.

Brought to you by the team at FreeAstroScience.com, this article aims to shed light on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the confusion surrounding its current state, and the necessity for continued vigilance. We delve into the facts, debunk misconceptions, and offer an in-depth analysis of the situation. 

As we navigate through the aftermath of the World Health Organization's declaration of the end of the COVID-19 emergency on May 5 this year, the perception of the pandemic's current state remains muddled. A myriad of media narratives, some overjoyed by the announcement, failed to distinguish between the cessation of the emergency and the conclusion of the pandemic itself. This led to widespread misunderstanding, prompting many to erroneously believe that the pandemic had ended.

However, the persistent circulation, mutation, and infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, albeit at a lesser frequency, paint a different picture. Despite the reduced severity compared to the emergency phase, the virus continues to cause hospitalizations and deaths, leaving a significant impact on affected families and communities. This is a vivid reminder of the persistent threat posed by the virus.

The onset of the winter season in 2023 has seen an expected but significant surge in SARS-CoV-2 infections, with hospitalizations and deaths surpassing the usual weekly counts. This includes infections among the vaccinated population, a result of new Omicron subvariants, Eris to Pirola, which can bypass the transient barrier created by vaccine antibodies.

Yet, it's crucial to remember that proper vaccination equips individuals with potent immune defenses that protect them from severe disease. While the virus may find its way into our first airways, for the vaccinated, it generally does not progress further or endanger life.

Despite this, the need to safeguard our first airways and impede the virus from spreading remains unfulfilled. There are continuous calls for an effective mucosal vaccine. Although efforts are underway, with promising results being reported, the need is still pressing.

The pandemic's defining characteristics - pervasiveness and extensive infectious capacity - are far from over. Widespread susceptibility to infection remains, as vaccination efforts have yet to reach all corners of the population. Furthermore, the virus can still infect those who have been vaccinated, especially a few months post-vaccination.

In the face of this ongoing situation, the use of masks remains crucial, especially if one wishes to prevent the myriad of symptoms that come with infection.

As we reflect upon the announcement of the pandemic's end on that fateful day in May, it's important to question whether pandemics truly cease to exist. According to an enlightening article by Joelle Abi, Rached, and Allan Brandt in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), major pandemics rarely completely disappear. They often persist until society decides that the residual loss of lives is tolerable compared to the benefits gained from lifting emergency measures.

The COVID-19 disease and virus, though evolved, continue to exist and affect vulnerable populations such as the elderly, the under-vaccinated, and the neglected. The conclusion drawn from this observation is that pandemics can end if "eradicated," meaning the causative microorganism must no longer be present in populations, animals, or the environment. 

To illustrate, we can look at the first SARS epidemic of 2002-2004, which disappeared without vaccines or drugs. However, the current SARS-CoV-2 virus is less aggressive but more contagious, making it harder to control. Thus, the need for continued vigilance remains paramount in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.