Hyderabad: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday that the COVID-19 pandemic was no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The World Health body also announced that the focus now would be on the long-term management of the infection, given that governments worldwide have taken significant measures to address the pandemic's effects.
COVID-19 virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. In January 2020, the number of reported cases increased, leading WHO to raise its highest level of alert and declare a PHEIC. The pandemic had spread across several countries, causing serious illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths, and putting a significant strain on healthcare systems worldwide.
In order for a disease to be declared a public health emergency, three conditions must be met: firstly, it must be spreading across multiple countries; secondly, it must be causing severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths; and thirdly, it must be placing significant strain on healthcare systems. The COVID-19 pandemic satisfied all three of these criteria in both 2020 and 2021.
The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, was a novel virus, and little was initially known about it. As the pandemic progressed, doctors and researchers discovered that the virus caused the immune system to overreact, leading to a cytokine storm. This response tended to happen more in older individuals and those with comorbidities such as diabetes.
Over the last three years, doctors and researchers have learned a lot about COVID-19, including transmission methods, risk factors, diagnostics, treatment protocols, and preventive measures. Governments worldwide have strengthened healthcare systems and rolled out vaccination drives, with more than 90% of people in India receiving their two primary vaccine doses and so WHO withdrew its PHEIC tag from Covid-19.
While India has reported 4.43 crore cases and 5.3 lakh deaths due to COVID-19, globally, the number of infections has crossed 76.5 crore, causing 69.2 lakh deaths. However, the virus's impact has been reduced, and health systems are no longer stressed.
Also read: Covid-19 no longer a public health emergency: WHO
The emergence of the Omicron variant resulted in an increase in cases worldwide. Still, it was less virulent than earlier variants, as people had acquired immunity. Governments worldwide have taken steps to address the variant's spread, such as imposing travel restrictions and vaccination requirements.
India witnessed three waves of COVID-19 infections. The first wave, from mid-2020 to around September of that year, was caused by the original variant. During this time, doctors were figuring out treatments, and guidelines changed frequently, while testing increased across the country.
In April and May of 2021, India experienced a devastating second wave of COVID-19 that resulted in an overwhelming number of cases and deaths. This surge was largely driven by the highly contagious Delta variant, which caused severe lung damage and led to a shortage of medical oxygen in hospitals across the country.
Thankfully, the third wave of the virus, which was driven by the Omicron variant, was less severe than the second wave. While the number of cases did peak at around 21 lakhs in mid-January 2022, the number of deaths remained relatively low at about 7,800. Since then, India has not experienced any major waves of the virus, and hospitals and health systems have been kept prepared for any potential surges.
While the number of cases did increase in April, with over 12,000 cases reported in a single day, the numbers have since started to decline again. Currently, there are no lockdowns in place, and life in India has largely returned to normal with restaurants, cinemas, and international travel operating as usual.
Despite the World Health Organization's recent declaration that the Omicron variant is no longer a "variant of concern," experts like Dr. Anurag Agarwal cautioned against letting down our guard. While the practical impact on the common man may be minimal, it is important to continue surveillance efforts and monitoring the situation closely to prevent any future waves of the virus.
COVID-19 is no longer a PHEIC, the focus will remain on managing the pandemic's long-term effects. Governments worldwide will continue to roll out vaccination drives, strengthen healthcare systems, and address the emergence of new variants. While the pandemic has caused significant disruptions globally, lessons learned will help address future pandemics and minimize their impact.
