WHO says COVID-19 pandemic may become endemic, warns against lifting restrictions

The coronavirus may be here to stay. The Executive Director of the World Health Organization, Michael J. Ryan, said that the new coronavirus that has infected more than 4.3 million people worldwide could go from pandemic to endemic.

An endemic is a disease or condition, found regularly and very common among a particular group.

“The WHO executive director says the Coronavirus will never go away. The HIV is not gone,” CNN said, citing Dr. Ryan.

“I am not comparing the two diseases, but I think it is important to be realistic. I do not think anyone can predict when or if this disease will go away,” added Ryan.

Ryan further stated that lifting coronavirus restrictions while the number of cases is still high could lead to renewed massive transmission of the virus.

“If you get the day-to-day number down to the lowest possible level and remove as many viruses from the community as possible, then open, you will tend to have less transmission or much less risk. If you re-open the presence of a high degree of virus transmission, then that transmission can be accelerated, “said Ryan, quoted by the Russian news agency.

Coronavirus cases worldwide are currently 4,429,232, while the number of deaths is close to 300,000.

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