The COVID-19 pandemic declared a public health emergency in the US five years ago. Despite progress, thousands still die from the virus every year. According to experts, COVID-19 is integrated into our way of life and will continue to cause illness annually.
Over 7 million lives have been lost to COVID-19 since 2020. The World Health Organization declared the virus no longer a global health emergency in May 2023, but that doesn’t mean it’s over as a global health threat.
Hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and death rates are on the rise. Death rates for COVID-19 have reached 1.8%. Experts say vaccination is crucial to reducing cases of long COVID, where symptoms continue for years after initial infection.
Low vaccination rates, with less than 25% of adults vaccinated as of January 4, contribute to high hospitalizations and deaths. The US accounts for over half of the recent reported deaths, with 2,100 fatalities in the last 28 days.
To reduce long COVID cases, experts recommend up-to-date vaccinations, which can decrease the risk of acquiring the virus and developing long COVID. However, new mutations may emerge, leading to updated vaccines on an annual basis.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/5-years-covid-declared-public-health-emergency-killing/story?id=118316756