When will the COVID-19 pandemic end? [Infographic]

The COVID-19 caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 has been on everyone’s mind since the beginning of 2020. Which is a highly infectious and deadly respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan City, China.

What started as a respiratory outbreak then proliferated faster than authorities and public health measures could mitigate and contain it. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic on the 11th of March 2020 as the virus quickly spiraled into a global health disaster infecting millions of people worldwide.

Various media outlets which contain anxiety-inducing headlines, the latest infection numbers, and the alarming rise of the death toll have people hoping that the pandemic will soon come to an end.

However, despite months of fighting against the disease, cases remain high in different territories, leaving everyone asking the question: “When will the pandemic end?”.

As much as everyone wants to know when it will end, it is still hard to predict, considering recent setbacks, including a new wave of cases and lockdowns. Unless the infection is contained and the transmission rate drops significantly throughout the world, then the pandemic is still far from being over.

However, there are strategies that will allow the ending of the pandemic in a more timely fashion. Which requires all individuals’ and communities’ collective effort to adhere to public health guidelines, whilst taking preventative measures to help flatten the surging epidemic curve.

Part of this effort is to willingly get a COVID-19 test to protect oneself and others regardless of whether an individual has symptoms. Testing can help determine if a person is with the COVID-19 virus. It is a preventative measure deemed the most effective strategy for getting people back on work and school.

There are two diagnostic tests for identifying individuals with an active coronavirus infection –molecular, PT-PCR test, and Antigen test.

Both include swabbing the nose and the throat which can determine if a person is with the virus. When it comes to results, a PCR test has higher accuracy than an Antigen test. It is best to know which of the two is what you need before seeking a test. If you are looking for locations where to get a PCR test, click PCR test near me.

Moreover, many airlines require passengers to get tested, whether for essential or non-essential travel, to receive a covid-19 fit-to-fly certificate that will enable them to cross local and international borders.

Further strategies in place that can inhibit the pandemics’ spread is a COVID-19 vaccination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, evidence supports the belief that fully vaccinated people are less likely to be infected, in turn preventing symptoms and less likely to spread the virus, causing COVID-19 to others.

Today, several vaccines currently in use are authorized, safe and effective in preventing COVID-19. Among the vaccines included in the World Health Organization, those approved to be administered are Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, and the Ad26.COV2.S known as the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.

The World Health Organization is currently on track to EUL other vaccine products through June. Emergency Use Listing (EUL) is a procedure to streamline the process of assessing whether new or unlicensed products can be used during public health emergencies.

People need to remain vigilant until it is safe to return to normal everyday activities. Until then, continue to take steps in helping slow the transmission of the virus by taking preventative measures and following public health protocols. Please remain updated on the latest news and information about vaccination and COVID-19 testing from reputable sources.