Is It OK to Stop Worrying about COVID?
A recent article from BU Today, Boston University’s daily news website, posed the question, is it OK to stop worrying about COVID?
The BU article explores whether it’s time to stop treating COVID-19 as an “exceptional threat” and instead manage it like other respiratory illnesses such as the flu. Five years into the pandemic, the article argues that many have embraced a post-pandemic mindset, balancing normalcy with precaution. Vaccines, treatments, and improved understanding of COVID-19 have significantly reduced its risks, though concerns about long COVID and new variants remain. Experts suggest that while many aspects of daily life have returned to pre-pandemic norms, there is still a need for vigilance, particularly as COVID-19 transitions into a seasonal illness much like the flu.
The article uses the statistics that there have been over 111 million cases of COVID in the United States since 2020, and approximately 1.2 million deaths. However, it goes on to show that deaths have plummeted since 2022. In 2020, there were 385,676 COVID deaths in the United States. In 2021, there were 463,267. In 2022, there were 246,166. In 2023, there were 49,928 deaths.
While these numbers are still tragic, public health measures have helped reduce the figures drastically and continue to be crucial for protecting vulnerable populations moving forward.
This shift doesn’t mean ignoring COVID-19; instead, it involves adapting our approach to fit the current reality. One effective strategy is using rapid COVID-19 testing, especially during periods of increased transmission, such as the winter months. Accessible, accurate rapid tests help individuals detect infections early, reducing the spread in workplaces, schools, and communities. Tests like ASSURE-100 can help quickly identify cases, reduce transmission, and protect vulnerable populations during seasonal surges.
This proactive approach mirrors how we manage seasonal flu and reinforces that, even as life normalizes, tools like vaccines and testing remain key to safeguarding public health. These tests complement other preventive measures like vaccination, ensuring that outbreaks are controlled before they escalate.