More talk about "pandemic" transitioning into "endemic." The other day we looked at Spain's cautious call for more detailed planning in that direction, a position not yet shared with Spain's European colleagues. But we have a little more detail regarding what endemic might look like:
Spanish officials would no longer need to record every COVID-19 infection and that people with symptoms would not necessarily be tested, but they would continue to be treated if they are sick.
It's still a ways away. But there will, eventually, be a situation of dynamic equilibrium: no real surges, plateaus or declines in different parts of the world at different times, just seasonal waxing and waning, just like the normal flu.
The article ends with some delightful news:
Even after the pandemic ends, “COVID will still be with us,” said Dr. Chris Woods, an infectious disease expert at Duke University. “The difference is people won’t be dying indiscriminately because of it, and it will be so routine that we will have much better and fairer access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for all.”
Do ya think? Sounds good, but the first part of this prediction absolutely depends on the second part.
And what about long COVID? Those of us who have been taking extraordinary measures to not get it for over two years - do we continue to live in caves and have everything delivered? Or do we wash and store our masks and take our chances? The answer may depend on learning more about long COVID, and the preliminary returns are encouraging. We'll get into detail when there's a more comprehensive, useful body of research. Stay tuned.
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