President Joe Biden’s recent declaration that the pandemic is over stirred much debate on what exactly that means and what it looks like for the daily lives of Americans. In many ways, most people have returned to pre-COVID lifestyles. As there are more than 300,000 new cases every week in the U.S., it is hard to argue that the pandemic is technically over.
Will COVID end in 2023? That is a difficult question to answer since there are so many variables to consider.
The good news is that once you understand what those factors are, you will have a better idea of what will happen. The COVID predictions delve into this information. Keep reading to find out what you can expect next year and beyond.
Is COVID Endemic?
The scientific community is somewhat split about whether COVID-19 will be eradicated in the foreseeable future. Where there is more consensus is whether the disease is reaching the endemic stage. Most scientists argue that it is.
Endemic means that a virus or other infectious disease is spreading at a normal, steady rate. It does not indicate full control but that it is isolated to particular areas or populations and more easily contained.
A good example of an endemic disease is the seasonal flu. It can spread quickly and be quite deadly, but you can combat it with vaccinations and public health precautions. This is opposed to a pandemic, which is more widespread, severe, and not well controlled.
Will COVID End in 2023?
As of December 2022, there have been more than 642 million cases of COVID throughout the world, including more than 6.6 million deaths. Two main factors have affected (and will affect) these numbers: variants and vaccinations.
Variants
We all have become familiar with the Greek-letter demarcations for the many COVID-19 variants that have sprung up over the last few years. Some have been more severe than others. The Delta variant, for instance, which emerged in late 2020 and hit the United States very hard through 2021, was much more deadly and transmittable than any prior variant.
There are still dozens of variants in circulation throughout the world. Some of the most prevalent ones include:
- Omicron
- Delta AY.4.2
- Alpha
- Beta
There also are dozens of subvariants among these. The public health response to each of these is meticulous since every variant differs in severity and how contagious it is. The ability to combat and contain each one will have much to do with whether we can eradicate COVID in the near future.
Vaccinations
Vaccines and booters for COVID are now available in most parts of the world. Although the populations of many countries, including the United States, remain largely unvaccinated. (Read more about vaccines here).
This is due to many factors, including concerns about the side effects and efficacy of vaccines. Some individuals put stock in natural immunity or the belief that their unvaccinated status does not impact others. Whether these perspectives persist and to what extent will greatly influence the spread of COVID going forward.
Will COVID end in 2023? The answer lies in how well we can continue to control variants, through vaccinations and other means.
Stay Up to Date on the COVID Pandemic
Now that you have an answer to the question, Will COVID end in 2023? you can know what to expect. You can make your own COVID predictions, but it is important to rely on reputable reporting sources in doing so.
We hope you found this health and safety information useful. If so, be sure to check out some of our other public health posts, as well as those on lifestyle, business, technology, travel, and many other topics.
