Cautious Optimism Over the State of the COVID Pandemic
Updated on
- Written by Stacey Rowan Woensdregt, Journalist, Former Writer
Medically reviewed by
Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Biden struck a cautiously optimistic note about the COVID-19 pandemic as it enters its third year and sees signs of slowing down.
While entering the next phase of the COVID pandemic, it is known that the pandemic is not over yet.
Now, a new COVID strategy is expected to define and guide the nation into a safe easing of public health restrictions and the restoration of a sense of normalcy. Overall, it is hoped that the new phase will be a much less disruptive endemic stage of COVID.
Next Phase of the Pandemic
The White House, according to news reports, provided a detailed strategy for the pandemic’s next phase, which included:
- Vaccinations locally and abroad, and the streamlining of this process for citizens
- COVID testing and the streamlining of this process
- Antiviral treatments
- Indoor air quality improvement
- Expansion of the U.S’s capacity to track and treat new variants
- Increased support for those with long-term consequences of COVID.
- New guidelines from The Centers for Disease Control issued regarding the ease of mask-wearing
- New and more relief funds made available
- Ways to prepare and react to potential surges with the ability to proactively reimpose certain protections should another surge or variant arise.
- The Office of Management and Budget requires money to bolster ongoing relief efforts. This includes $18.25 billion to go to the Department of Health and Human Services and $4.25 billion to go to the State Department and United States Agency for International Development.
Current State of the Pandemic
The U.S. is experiencing multiple variants, fewer individuals in hospitals, more individuals being vaccinated, and a better understanding of shot series and boosters.
According to news reports, “Recently, news about the pandemic in the United States has been encouraging. Hospitalizations, patient cases, and deaths are dropping, and effective antiviral treatments are becoming much more available for those who get sick. Dr. Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control, has announced a new set of guidelines – meaning, right now, about 90% of Americans can choose to drop their masks.”
ABC News reports that “Case numbers have plummeted. Three-fourths of U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated, with a growing number of people getting boosted. Rapid tests are finally widely available. And life-saving therapeutics including new anti-viral pills are growing in supply.”
Hopes for the Next Phase of the Pandemic
It is now hoped that COVID will mutate into a milder form and becomes weaker and weaker. It is further hoped that the President and the leading authorities will find improved ways of communication with the public regarding all COVID matters.
It is believed, according to news reports, that in the next phase, “We will get to a place with this disease where we live with a relatively low level of the virus all year long and that maybe we have some surges during respiratory virus season.”
However, There Is No Threat Too Small
With COVID and current U.S. statistics showing a positive outlook for the third year of COVID, it is vital that the public still sees small threats as something to be still concerned about.
The news story reports, “Be cautious after telling fully vaccinated Americans back in May 2021 they could take off their masks… New CDC research during a surge of the Delta variant, new CDC research tells the country that masks should go back on…. There were vaccinated people that were transmitting it to other people.”
According to the same news report, “The CDC says research is ongoing to determine if, down the line, periodic COVID-19 immunizations will be needed, just like the annual flu shot.”
Yes, U.S. citizens are now taking advantage of a new phase in the pandemic and lighter restrictions, but it’s important to not take anything for granted and still be cautious. While many mandates have been rolled back, indoor mask usage should be used if you are at medium to high risk, and social distancing for those not vaccinated is still advised for U.S. citizens.
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Medically reviewed by:
