Five Years Into COVID-19: What 5 Things Did We Get Wrong?

The world is now five years into the COVID-19 pandemic, and with hindsight, we can see how our understanding of the virus evolved. Early on, scientists, public health officials, and the general public made assumptions about the virus that turned out to be incorrect or incomplete.

From misunderstandings about transmission and immunity to the effectiveness of certain health measures, we’ve learned a lot. Here are five key things we got wrong about COVID-19 in the early days—and what we know now.

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1. COVID-19 Was Thought to Spread Primarily Through Surfaces

In the early months of 2020, public health guidance emphasized sanitizing surfaces as a primary way to prevent infection.

• Many believed that touching contaminated surfaces (fomites) was a major mode of transmission.
• People wiped down groceries, mail, and household items with disinfectants.
• Companies invested in deep-cleaning protocols for public spaces.

What We Know Now:

• COVID-19 spreads primarily through airborne transmission, not contaminated surfaces.
• Aerosols (tiny airborne particles) can linger in the air for extended periods, increasing indoor transmission risk.
• Ventilation and masking are far more effective than disinfecting surfaces. (Source)

2. Masks Were Initially Discouraged for the General Public

At the start of the pandemic, major health organizations, including the CDC and WHO, advised against widespread mask use.

• Officials were concerned about mask shortages for healthcare workers.
• There was skepticism about mask effectiveness outside hospital settings.
• Some feared masks would give people a false sense of security.

What We Know Now:

• Masks, especially N95s and KN95s, are highly effective at reducing transmission.
• Countries that adopted masking early saw lower infection rates.
• Masking indoors remains a key tool, especially in high-risk environments. (Source)

3. Herd Immunity Was Overestimated

Early in the pandemic, many experts believed that once enough people got infected or vaccinated, the virus would fade away due to herd immunity.

• Some suggested that reaching a 60-70% immunity threshold would end the pandemic.
• There was debate about whether natural infection could lead to long-term protection.
• Some countries even adopted herd immunity strategies instead of strict mitigation measures.

What We Know Now:

• Herd immunity has been elusive due to new variants like Omicron that evade prior immunity.
• Immunity wanes over time, requiring boosters for continued protection.
• Instead of elimination, COVID-19 has become an endemic virus, requiring ongoing public health efforts. (Source)

4. Vaccines Were Expected to Prevent Infection Completely

When COVID-19 vaccines were first introduced, many believed they would provide sterilizing immunity—meaning vaccinated individuals would not get infected at all.

• Early clinical trials focused on reducing symptomatic disease and severe outcomes.
• Public messaging emphasized “Get vaccinated to stop the spread”.
• Many assumed breakthrough infections would be rare.

What We Know Now:

• Vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death, but they do not completely block infection.
• Variants like Omicron and JN.1 have higher immune evasion, leading to more breakthrough cases.
• Booster shots help restore protection, but immunity wanes over time.

Despite this, vaccination remains the best defense against severe COVID-19 outcomes. (Source)

5. Long COVID Was Not Recognized as a Major Issue

Early in the pandemic, COVID-19 was thought to be an acute illness, with recovery expected in a few weeks for most people.

• Doctors initially focused on respiratory symptoms rather than long-term effects.
• Many dismissed lingering symptoms as anxiety or post-viral fatigue.
• Some believed that only severe cases led to long-term complications.

What We Know Now:

• Long COVID can affect even mild cases, causing fatigue, brain fog, heart issues, and more.
• Millions of people worldwide continue to experience long-term symptoms.
• Research is ongoing, but treatments for long COVID remain limited. (Source)

How These Lessons Shape COVID-19 Strategies Today

Five years into the pandemic, our understanding of COVID-19 has evolved significantly. These early misconceptions taught us valuable lessons:

• Airborne transmission requires a focus on ventilation, masking, and air filtration.
• Vaccines remain essential for preventing severe disease, even if they don’t stop all infections.
• Testing, including rapid home tests, remains a crucial tool for tracking the virus.
• Long COVID research is now a priority as millions continue to experience lingering symptoms.

As COVID-19 continues to circulate, staying informed, prepared, and adaptable remains essential for personal and public health

Conclusion: The Future of COVID-19 Understanding

Reflecting on what we got wrong in the early days of COVID-19 highlights how science evolves with new evidence. While mistakes were made, these lessons have improved pandemic responses and public health policies worldwide.

Going forward, continued research, surveillance, and proactive health measures—including vaccination, improved ventilation, and rapid home testing—will remain critical in managing COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Rapid tests remain a vital tool to protect your family and loved ones during seasonal surges of COVID-19. Be sure to stock your medicine cabinet with market-leading ASSURE-100 rapid tests this season.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, rapid testing, rapid home tests, early pandemic mistakes, virus transmission, vaccine misconceptions, long COVID, public health