
Peter Zeihan: Why Do the Democrats Keep Losing Ground?
The future of the Democratic Party in the US isn’t looking too bright. When strategy and targeting don’t change for over half a century, I…
Thought Leader: Peter Zeihan
How will the world decide when the pandemic is over?
There’s no clear-cut definition for when a pandemic starts and ends, and how much of a threat a global outbreak is posing can vary by country.
“It’s somewhat a subjective judgment because it’s not just about the number of cases. It’s about severity, and it’s about impact,” says Dr. Michael Ryan, the World Health Organization‘s emergencies chief.
In January 2020, WHO designated the virus a global health crisis “of international concern.” A couple months later in March, the United Nations health agency described the outbreak as a pandemic, reflecting the fact that the virus had spread to nearly every continent and that numerous health officials were describing it as a pandemic.
How will the world decide when the pandemic is over? (AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin)
The pandemic may be widely considered over when WHO decides the virus is no longer an emergency of international concern, a designation its expert committee has been reassessing every three months. But when the most acute phases of the crisis ease within countries could vary.
“There is not going to be one day when someone says, ‘OK, the pandemic is over,’” says Dr. Chris Woods, an infectious disease expert at Duke University. Although there’s no universally agreed-upon criteria, he said countries will likely look for sustained reduction in cases over time.
Dr. Manjul Shukla transfers Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Worcester, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Scientists expect COVID-19 will eventually settle into becoming a more predictable virus like the flu, meaning it will cause seasonal outbreaks but not the huge surges we’re seeing right now. But even then, Woods says, some habits, such as wearing masks in public places, might continue.
“Even after the pandemic ends, COVID will still be with us,” he says.
Peter Zeihan: Why Do the Democrats Keep Losing Ground?
The future of the Democratic Party in the US isn’t looking too bright. When strategy and targeting don’t change for over half a century, I…
Thought Leader: Peter Zeihan
Peter Goodman: His Start-Up May Not Survive Trump’s Tariffs
A sourdough baker turned entrepreneur in North Carolina has delayed his new product as he contemplates the prospect that higher costs will doom his company.…
Thought Leader: Peter Goodman
Patrick McGee: Is Tim Cook the Right or Risky Choice for Apple?
Deepwater’s Gene Munster and author of ‘Apple in China’ Patrick McGee, join ‘The Exchange’ to discuss whether Apple needs a new CEO and what needs…
Thought Leader: Patrick McGee