CNN reported on the 22nd (local time) that “the optimism that the Omicron epidemic is the last phase of the pandemic is being raised cautiously in some parts of the scientific community.” As Omicron, with a low risk of severe or death, provides immunity to much of the human race, COVID-19 could become similar to seasonal illnesses such as colds and flu. David Heyman, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said, “All viruses try to be endemic, and this virus (Omicron) seems to be succeeding.”
The existence of vaccines such as booster shots is also pointed out as one factor that can accelerate the endemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on the same day that, as a result of its own study, Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine booster shots could prevent 90% of hospital admissions due to Omicron mutation infection. Professor Mark Woolhouse of the University of Edinburgh said, “Currently, more than half of the world’s population has been exposed to COVID-19 or a vaccine.
Recently, in some countries, the spread of the virus has been slowing down. According to the New York Times (NYT), the average daily number of confirmed cases in the United States for a week as of the 21st was 721,658. Compared to the past 14 days, it has decreased by 10% in a week. In the UK, the average daily number of confirmed cases for a week has plummeted to 50% in just over a week.
With the stagnant spread of Omicron, more and more countries are showing a movement to change the premise of the quarantine system to ‘endemic’. The UK has decided to end quarantine measures such as indoor masks and vaccine passes at large events starting on the 26th. Ireland decided to lift most quarantine restrictions, including the limit on the number of gatherings.
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