Is the COVID 19 pandemic "over"?

[verdantverdure]

I just thought I'd ask.

YABU The COVID 19 pandemic IS "over."

YANBU The COVID 19 pandemic is not "over".

we are completely reliant on vaccines to control flu, TB, diptheria, polio, etc etc etc adding covid doesn't really change our basic situation

I've never had covid, that i know of. No one in my circle of friends or family have had a cold for ages so maybe nothing much going on around here at the moment.

My mum (72) won't vaccinate again as the second jab she had knocked her off her feet for 4 weeks - my mum is never ill and still does evening stables every day so this was awful for her.

My boss is currently in motions of compensation, her first jab put her in to a coma, it took a year to learn to walk & talk again and now she has a catalogue of allergies she never had before. Apparently there is an American company heading up a class action type claim too?

Other than on MN, nobody talks about it anymore!

It’s treated differently because it’s nothing like flu.

For a start it isn’t seasonal and is never likely to be. In addition it’s much more contagious, there’s a higher risk of long term disability, there’s a higher risk of hospitalisation if you don’t have an up to date vaccine and we’re under vaccinating the population without allowing those not eligible to choose to pay to get vaccinated.

The government really have done a good job in getting the population to believe a number of covid myths and actually no work at all on properly informing the population of the risk. Which is odd because a small number of change in behaviour might just improve the economy and cut waiting lists which would deal with 2 of Rishi’s pledges.

I.have never to.my knowledge had flu but I thought flu did knock.people out ?
When most people say they have flu they mean a bad cold .

Had a family member die of it last week. Depends on your definition of over

@Nevermay except pretty much no one is eligible for vaccines. You can't even pay for COVID vaccines if you want them. And flu has one peak a year (usually December/Jan). COVID is peaking 4-5 times a year. It's not seasonal, unless you mean every season.

And the big difference is 10% of infections cause long term issues. If everyone is getting infected a least once a year, that's a lot of people developing long term health problems. We're already seeing it with record school absences and record sick leave. It's not sustainable.

Im.sorry for your loss but my understanding is that COVID will always be around it will.never be eradicated but the actual.pandemic was over?

@MoserRothOrangeandAlmond Yes, I am well aware of that. But flu is normally in winter, not all year round.

"It’s treated differently because it’s nothing like flu."

This is clearly incorrect. I am not saying they are the same, but they have many many similarities. They are both respiratory viruses causing similar symptoms. Some straints of flu are much more damaging than others too. Same for other viruses.

And I think we can stop the old "you've been brainwashed/ are too stupid to understand the risks" now. It's been 3 years, we understand the risks. But, genuinely, what do you want people to do? What is it you want society to do specifically for Covid forever and ever? Wear masks and stay 2ms apart forever? Lockdowns every winter?

@Summerrainagain1 no one is talking about lockdowns. There is a lot we can do to reduce spread.

1. Ventilation in public spaces including schools
2. Air purifiers in these locations
3. Mandatory masking in healthcare settings because the number of hospital acquired infections is shocking, and people in hospitals/GP suegeries are vulnerable
4. Provide free tests so people can test if they are sick
5. Encourage people to wear a mask if sick and isolate if possible.
6. Educate public about proper masks i.e. respirators instead of surgicals

It won't cut transmission 100% but it's definitely better than pretending there's nothing we can do.

It has officially been over since May
It has been over for many people for much longer than that
It will never be over for some people who will hang in fear of it for a long time to come

@Summerrainagain1 ps COVID is not just a respiratory disease, it is also a vascular disease. Unlike flu.

Frankly, there are many other things that should take priority in terms of funding in schools than air purifiers in every classroom IMO.

Look, I get it, we should all be mindful of spread. My experience is that far more people are MUCH more cautious now, about hygiene, staying at home when ill, even mask wearing. Those things are good practice generally too, not just for covid. But there's a cost benefit analysis to be made for all this.

I am bemused by a vaccine only policy which a) doesn’t allow people to get vaccinated and b) is following the seasonal pattern of a completely different virus.

It's not over according to the World Health Organisation. It was downgraded from its previous emergency status in May but as of today, their website says that the pandemic is NOT over.

It's "over" in the sense that we are not taking any measures any more, save vaccinating the elderly.

It's not "over" insomuch as we will live with the cycle of infection and re-infection for the rest of our lives, some of us will be unlucky and suffer permanent physical damage. Others will not.

I had Covid in last summer it knocked me out for about 4 days.

I had Flu in the winter a few years ago. It knocked me out for 3 weeks and left me with significant hearing loss.

Covid felt much worse than a cold but not as bad as flu.

What does that actually mean?
When will the pandemic be over then?
I understand the virus will.remain forever but if the pandemic is not over now when will it be?

Covid is a vascular virus with respiratory symptoms. It isn’t a respiratory virus.

I never said that people were too stupid to understand the risks, I said they’d been misinformed of them. Although if you want to argue I did it would be better to get your basic facts correct.

I don't study the WHO website daily.

No, nor do I, but it seemed the logical place to look when people are spreading misinformation about the pandemic being over.

I experienced actual flu last year and, for me, it was 10x worse than the times I’ve had covid. I have never felt so ill, I was literally bedbound for almost a week and it took another week or 2 after that to feel normal again. I couldn’t stand and felt like my head was going to explode from the pain. Just horrendous. I’m healthy and early 30s as well but no flu jab at the time. Definitely considering one this year.

Well I went with the BBC

Covid global health emergency is over, WHO says - BBC News

@Growlybear83

I went the great 'misinformer' the BBC but whatever floats your boat.

@DinnaeFashYersel I've had both COVID and flu. I'm just getting over COVID now, I was bedbound for seven days and I had lowered oxygen and breathing difficulties.
I've been very unwell for more than two weeks now and it's still not over, nor do I know if I will have permanent damage.