The third year of Pandemic is upon us. The wave after wave and increasing number of affected people makes us worried about the future. Are we going to see any end to it? Or do we have to get ready to live with this virus.
We have seen the whole saga unfold in front of us when the world reacted to the pandemic in panic mode initially and then slowly we started seeing more calculated efforts and steps to safeguard the public from the effects of COVID-19. It does show the resilience of the humans as well as the zeal of the human mind to benefit the human race collectively through research, collaboration and innovative thinking.
We also saw different reactions of different countries in their efforts to prevent the spread of pandemic as well as try to continue a near normal routine of life. It translated differently for different nations, as the understanding, resources and capabilities dictated the strategies. Lockdown vs staying open was the biggest debate, we saw happening across the globe. In Pakistan, the thinking prevailed to open, but the fear of spread also was there. Hence we coined the term “smart lock down”. Being the low resource country, we knew that our options are limited, and the trade and commerce also has to continue for the poor to survive. So the decision makers needed to act sensibly and smartly. The concept of smart lock down was based upon surveillance and limited lockdown to delay or stop the spread of virus, while letting the prevention strategies to continue. This way the economic activity which is equally important for the nation can continue, while we are dealing with the pandemic.
We also saw scaling down of social activities and gatherings to avoid the spread of virus. As the mode of spread was mostly from person to person, so it made more sense. We also observed online teaching and work, and similar way family meetings shifting to become online. All these measures were based upon the development of the understanding of the scientists and decision makers in the best interest of the their nations and at times it felt odds in the mind of common people. Yet the world has to be commended for more or less sticking to science and scientific assertions despite its limited body of knowledge.
We are observing a rapid increase in the infectivity and spread of the virus, and the current variant labeled OMICRON, is much more capable of infecting the people in comparison to the previous strains. On the limited data so far available, it seems to be less morbid and the people who get infected by it, have milder symptoms and usually come back to normal is lesser time. Although long term effects are still to be observed, yet it seems it will not overwhelm the healthcare resources.
With various strains coming to play and now a rapid spread of relatively milder strain has made me believe that the pandemic is coming to an end with HERD immunity about to be reached very soon. This does not mean the end of the COVID-19 but it means the disease will behave more like flu and people who get the virus need not to be isolated like earlier days of COVID.
So this year most likely will witness the normalization of the life to before COVID.