SARS-CoV-2 virus weakened but still circulating in India

Five years after the start of the pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still present but much weaker. Although it continues to infect people, it does not typically cause serious illness anymore. India remembers this week as the anniversary of its strict 21-day national lockdown during the pandemic's height. At that time, millions became sick, and sadly, over seven million people worldwide lost their lives. India reported more than 525,000 of those deaths. In May 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Covid-19 was no longer a global health emergency. Experts say the virus has evolved and now behaves more like a common flu. Shahid Jameel, a virologist, noted that while it can still cause issues for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, the general public does not need to worry. He believes the virus is unlikely to return in a stronger form. Recent WHO data shows that between January 6 and February 2 this year, there were about 147,000 new Covid-19 cases and around 4,500 deaths worldwide across 83 countries. In Maharashtra, a member of the Covid task force, Rajesh Karyakarte, mentioned that SARS-CoV-2 is now in a more predictable and endemic phase. Routine testing has decreased, but health authorities continue to track its presence. Some patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) have tested positive for the virus during ongoing surveillance efforts.