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| - Last Updated on August 30, 2024 by Nivedita
Quick Take
There’s a debate going on around ‘Is COVID still a pandemic in 2024?’ A Threads user has claimed that the COVID pandemic is still killing people. The Thread claims that COVID is killing 1 person every 5 minutes in the US. We did the fact check and termed it as mostly false.
The Claim
According to a Threads post, COVID pandemic is still dangerous and kills a person every 5 minutes in the US.
Fact Check
What is the current status of COVID in the US?
As per our research, the cases of COVID-19 have declined drastically across the globe, including the US. The weekly death count due to COVID, as per the Washington State Department of Health, is 18 per 100,000 population statewide. We can also see from the graph that there is a declining trend:
We were also able to obtain data from the National Centre for Health Statistics, which evidently indicates a declining trend of COVID-19. Here is a screenshot of the graph from NCHS:
We also searched for the number of hospitalisations data due to COVID-19. We got our data from the Washington State Department of Health, which suggests a weekly hospitalisation of 95 people for the current respiratory disease season. Here is the graphical representation:
As per NBC News, the number of hospitalisations due to COVID-19, till 17th April is 6133 (average daily). This shows a 20% reduction in the number of hospitalisations due to COVID-19. The number of ICU admissions is around 1099, which indicates a 13.8% decrease. On an average, 225 children are hospitalised, but it has also been reduced by almost 34%.
Total number of COVID-19 deaths:
In our research we found the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the current respiratory disease season is 870 in the US (latest update 15th May 2024).
One of the fake post talks about Sri Lanka’s response to Covid-19 as the world’s fifth best among nations battling the pandemic.
In a fake post an audio message has been circulated which said that dangerous time has begun in respect to Covid-19. The claim is the audio message from one of India’s topmost doctor – Dr. Naresh Trehan which has been found false.
In Several false post we can see claim which says that the American Airlines pilots are dying in middle of flights.
Another post claims that the heart issues of Ollie Wines, a football player are caused due to COVID– Vaccines.
What do you mean by respiratory disease season?
A respiratory disease season is a time of year when illnesses that affect the respiratory system, like the flu and colds (even COVID), are more common. This usually happens in the fall and winter when people spend more time indoors, and the viruses that cause these diseases can spread more easily. During this season, it’s important to take extra steps to protect yourself. Some of the healthy habits may include washing your hands often, getting vaccinated, and staying away from people who feel sick.
Another claim also tells that Coronavirus does not settle in the air and is not transmitted by air. After investigating it was found that the message is not from UNICEF. Though it is true that Coronavirus is not an airborne virus, but the virus can stay suspended in the air for some time.
Is COVID-19 still on the rise?
No, not really. The data from the WHO and CDC evidently indicate that the cases of COVID-19 are declining. The graphs clearly prove that the number of hospitalisations and deaths due to COVID are showing a decreasing trend. While there’s a new variant FLiRT, but we do not need to worry as the health authorities are keeping a check. Usual hand hygiene habits and wearing a mask is still the most effective tool against any emerging variant.
According to the World Health Organisation, we can see the COVID-19 cases are on a decline. Here is a graph from the WHO for a better understanding:
This graph clearly shows COVID cases are decreasing.
What is the new FLiRT variant?
The KP.2 variant, a recent mutation of the Omicron strain, belongs to a group known as FLiRT variants. This variant is characterised by changes in its spike protein, involving the substitution of specific amino acids (phenylalanine replaces leucine, and threonine replaces arginine).
How infectious is the new FLiRT variant?
The KP.2 variant is believed to be more transmissible than previous strains but has a lower level of infectiousness compared to the dominant JN.1 strain in the U.S. It’s expanding in the population, indicating some advantage over JN.1. KP.2 has four new mutations, including three in the spike protein, which the virus uses to infect cells. However, there’s no evidence suggesting KP.2 is more severe than previous variants.
Can FLiRT cause severe illness?
FLiRT, a subtype of the Omicron variant with new mutations, can evade immunity from vaccines and past infections. Its symptoms, such as fever, cough, fatigue, and digestive problems, are similar to those of earlier variants. Also, it spreads more easily. It’s important to take precautions against FLiRT, like frequent hand-washing and wearing a mask in public spaces. But you do not to worry.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that there is no evidence suggesting that KP.2 (FLiRT) would cause more severe disease than other strains. Having said all that, we still cannot provide a concrete answer to ‘Is COVID still a pandemic in 2024?’ One source suggests COVID is still a pandemic in 2024 and others don’t think so. But there is no official statement form the WHO, as of now.
What is wastewater surveillance?
Wastewater surveillance is a method of testing sewage to find out if viruses, like the one that causes COVID-19, are present in a community. Since we are still wondering ‘Is COVID still a pandemic in 2024’, wastewater surveillance is an essential tool. By checking the water that leaves homes and buildings, scientists can detect viruses even before people show symptoms or get tested. This helps health officials understand how the virus is spreading and take action to protect the community.
Testing wastewater can detect the virus spreading in a community before people start showing symptoms and going to the doctor or hospital. It can also find infections in people who don’t have symptoms. If you see higher levels of the virus in wastewater, it might mean there is a higher risk of infection.
What does the wastewater surveillance suggest about the COVID status in the US?
We got our hands on the wastewater surveillance data from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Even this data suggests minimal to low wastewater viral activity levels across the country except Idaho. Only Idaho shows moderate wastewater virus levels. Here is the wastewater surveillance map:
This map shows the average level of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) found in wastewater in each state or territory over the past week. The wastewater viral activity level shows how the amount of virus in the wastewater changes compared to the usual level at each treatment plant. These levels are categorised as minimal, low, moderate, high, or very high.
Nationally, the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently minimal, according to the CDC.
The wastewater surveillance map also provides evidence that the viral load is on the lower side. So, there is no need to create a panic situation. The WHO, CDC and other Health Organisations and regulatory bodies are keeping an eye on the COVID-19 status at all times to ensure timely management. There is continuous and constant monitoring from all the significant health organisations around the world. The WHO will decide and let everyone know ‘Is COVID still a pandemic in 2024?’
We have done several fact checks on COVID-19: Can Covaxin cause death after two years of vaccination? Will Japan ban COVID vaccinated people from donating blood? Is COVID-19 vaccine responsible for death of O. J. Simpson?
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