Reduced Fatality Rate and Omicron Vaccine... Will We Escape the COVID-19 Tunnel?

WHO Optimistic About COVID-19 Endemic: "The End Is in Sight"
Government Shifts from Emergency to Routine Response System Initiated

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated last week that the number of deaths related to COVID-19 has reached its lowest point since March 2020, indicating that the end of the global pandemic is in sight. On the 15th, a citizen visiting the screening clinic at Jung-gu Public Health Center in Seoul is undergoing a test. Photo by Mo Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Expectations are growing that the COVID-19 endemic phase is approaching. Recently, the global number of COVID-19 deaths recorded the lowest figure since March 2020, and the domestic COVID-19 fatality rate has dropped to 0.04, which is one-fiftieth of the level at the early stages of the epidemic spread. In October, the COVID-19 Omicron-targeted vaccine is scheduled to be used for winter vaccinations, and discussions on transitioning to a routine COVID-19 response system are expected to intensify.

Recently, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), expressed the view that the end of COVID-19 is near. In an online press conference, he said, "We have not yet reached the point to end the COVID-19 pandemic, but the end is in sight."

COVID-19 related indicators also support optimistic perceptions about the endemic phase. According to the WHO's weekly COVID-19 epidemiological update, the number of global COVID-19 related deaths from the 5th to the 11th of this month decreased by 22% compared to the previous week, recording 10,935 deaths. This is the lowest number since March 2020.

Director-General Ghebreyesus said, "We have not yet reached there (the end of the COVID-19 pandemic)," but added, "There has never been a better time than now to end the COVID-19 pandemic." He urged, "The world must seize this opportunity (to end COVID-19)."

The government is also preparing to transition to a routine response system. On the 16th, Jeong Ki-seok, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) COVID-19 Special Response Team and member of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, said at a regular briefing, "We need to start discussions on transitioning from the current emergency COVID-19 response system to a routine COVID-19 response system."

Jeong said, "As the pandemic ends globally, our country must not fall behind," expressing concern that "since our country’s wealth largely depends on trade, falling behind global trends means falling behind in general." He added, "We need to start preparing an exit strategy from now."

Many countries have already begun measures to transition COVID-19 prevention to a routine system. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Israel, the United States, and Singapore have lifted indoor mask mandates except in some facilities. Among them, France declared the end of its health emergency on the 1st of last month and subsequently lifted some COVID-19 prevention measures.

Jung Ki-seok, Head of the COVID-19 Special Response Team at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, is briefing on the current status of COVID-19 response at the government Seoul office briefing room on the 16th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jeong emphasized, "These countries have maintained stability without major outbreaks even after easing prevention measures," and added, "Considering the trends in confirmed cases and fatality rates, it is time for our country to discuss transitioning to a routine response system like these countries." He further predicted, "Just as the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issues annual flu advisories while people maintain their daily lives, the day when COVID-19 becomes such a disease is not far off."

The prominent outlook for transitioning from pandemic to endemic is also related to the stable domestic COVID-19 situation. Recently, the domestic COVID-19 fatality rate is 0.04%, which is about one-fiftieth of the initial rate (0.21%).

The updated vaccine developed to respond to the COVID-19 Omicron variant also raises expectations. Moderna’s bivalent vaccine in the United States will be used for vaccinations starting in October. This vaccine is a bivalent vaccine developed to simultaneously target the original COVID-19 virus and the Omicron variant BA.1.

However, some caution that it is too early to be complacent. There is a possibility of simultaneous outbreaks of influenza and COVID-19, and immunity among the population may decrease around late November, potentially leading to another wave of infections. Jeong said, "While discussing the timing, speed, and extent of easing strategies, the current successful prevention measures must not be disrupted," and urged, "Even if the expected seventh wave occurs this winter, daily life should not be disrupted, nor should the public suffer."

Baek Kyung-ran, director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, also emphasized at the briefing on the 16th, "(WHO) Director-General’s remarks highlight the need for more active use of vaccines and treatments to end the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of joint efforts at this time when the epidemic is declining."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.