The COVID-19 Global Pandemic

Into the Third Year of the Global Pandemic

It has been a long two years and more, and we still have not reached the end. More than one million people have died in the U.S. alone and many more millions around the world. The losses are almost incalculable and sadly, many could have been avoided. One thing we have learned in all that time is the value and importance of good information that we can trust. And all that information can be daunting, especially as science learns more about the virus and the virus also “learns more” about changing. This page is offered as a way to get access to facts about COVID-19. Please take the time to consider and learn more about the current state and history of this often deadly disease. It will be time well spent. Knowledge and trust are two of the most powerful tools we have in fighting the Pandemic. We update this page regularly as new information becomes available. Please share it.

The Pandemic is Not Over Yet

The Omicron surge has subsided, but the Global Pandemic is not over as infections and deaths continue with the BA.2 subvariant emerging and new outbreaks reported. Suspension of pandemic precautions and misinformation about the pandemic imply that COVID-19 is “near the end.” On the contrary, the WHO warned that these factors, combined with a more transmissible Omicron BA.2 variant, are causing an increase in COVID-19 cases globally. The virus has not ‘settled down’ into a purely seasonal or predictable pattern yet.
Read more about the cautionary view from WHO.

Even as nearly 258 million people have received a first shot of vaccine in the U.S. and as states and countries loosen and remove restrictions and re-open, the Pandemic persists in the face of conflict in Ukraine, typhoons in Philippines or tornadoes in Kentucky – in much the same way that the deadly 1918 influenza raged while the world was at war. Such crises actually increase the threat of a resurgence of COVID in the affected regions. Although more than 77% of the total U.S. population has received at least the first dose of vaccine (89% of adults), the rate of vaccine hesitancy in some areas severely hampered prevention efforts. In a world weary of the Pandemic, the reimplementation of safety measures met significant resistance. The restrictions are ending in many areas, and while the Pandemic shows signs of winding down in the U.S. it is still very much with us.

Vaccines, however, offer the most hopeful view of the Pandemic.

“From the start of the US vaccination campaign through the end of November 2021, Covid-19 vaccines prevented about 1.1 million deaths and 10.3 million hospitalizations in the United States, according to estimates by the health care foundation The Commonwealth Fund. Even without counting the continued impact of the omicron variant in 2022, it’s a stunning effect that presents a different side to the story of the pandemic.” Read more about lives saved in this Vox report.

Masking, handwashing and avoiding large gatherings continue to be important in combating COVID-19. And while the CDC relaxed and removed mask-wearing requirements indoors by those who are fully vaccinated (currently 66% of the U.S. population – only 46% of eligible population are vaccinated and boosted), it is more important then ever for those who are not yet vaccinated to stay vigilant, continue to observe basic safety measures and get vaccinated. Authorities recommend that higher quality masks (N95 or KN95) or double masking are more effective against Omicron and the BA.2 subvariant. Simple cloth masks alone are not sufficient.

Global COVID Snapshot

World deaths from COVID have surpassed 6 million (with experts including W.H.O estimating a much higher toll). As the U.S. and other countries in the West struggled to manage the latest wave from the pandemic, countries and communities with limited access to vaccines faced new threats as some health systems have been overwhelmed by rising infection rates. Resistance to vaccine and mask mandates continues to challenge progress in defeating this highly contagious virus.

U.S. COVID Status as Deaths Reach 1 Million

The U.S. has averaged nearly 104,000 new infections every day in the past week, according to the CDC COVID data tracker. The numbers had dropped significantly for weeks but have risen again sharply in recent days and continue to rise. The Omicron variant and the BA.2 subvariant still strike the unvaccinated and the elderly who represent a majority of new cases and deaths. As infection rates in many states rise, the mortality rate has declined, recording nearly 290 deaths per day, but still more than one million people in the United States have died from COVID-19 (the near equivalent of the entire population of such cities as San Jose, California: Jacksonville, Florida; Ft. Worth, Texas). On September 20, 2021, the US marked earlier grim milestone in the fight against COVID-19 recording more American deaths from COVID-19 than the Spanish flu in 1918 – making COVID-19 the most deadly pandemic in American History.

Vaccine Hesitancy

Although three successfully tested, safe and free vaccines are in widespread use in the United States, the rate of vaccination has slowed considerably. Seventeen states still report that less than 60% of their population are fully vaccinated. Health authorities are addressing vaccine hesitancy as a significant barrier to community immunization. The wearing of masks and proper hand washing remain critical weapons against infection for those who have not received the vaccine and mask wearing is still important for those who have received the vaccine as well.  The science is clear. They work. Continuing the key steps of prevention and getting vaccinated at the earliest opportunity are both necessary to stop COVID-19. In addition, the booster shot is another important level of protection. To learn more about the global story of the pandemic, open the ” Trusted Resources” below and view COVID-19 Updates.

Health Inequity

Unequal access to COVID-19 treatments threatens the global recovery. Read this account in The Conversation.

The pandemic has proven especially lethal in predominantly Black and other neighborhoods of color that face systemic inequality including lack of access to quality health care combined with a shrinking safety net for critical public services. According to the COVID Racial Data Tracker, COVID has had a deadly impact on Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other people of color with Black people dying at twice the rate of white people. Authorities also are seeing significant disparities in vaccination rates from zip code to zip code within communities, often reflecting economic and social inequities in those same populations. As it attacks poor communities in the U.S. and globally, it also exhibits catastrophic growth in countries with large concentrations of urban poverty or with the most fragile health systems. In both rich and poor countries, the virus exposes and exploits every weak point in the health infrastructure. Where you live may determine whether you live or die.

Health inequity retains its deadly potential in communities of color with poor health care access as vaccine distribution lags dangerously behind better-resourced neighbors. And that was why the COVAX pillar of access was considered so critical at the beginning as the only global effort to ensure that people in all corners of the world got access to COVID-19 vaccines when they were available, regardless of their wealth. The COVAX initiative, however, faced serious challenges of supply, logistics, and bureaucracies, as many under-resourced countries initially made little progress with vaccinations because the manufacture and distribution of vaccines still had not met their growing need. As an example, 80% of people in high-income countries have been vaccinated, but just 16% of people in low-income countries are. Vaccine hesitancy is also playing a significant role in countries and in communities in the U.S. where in the past the public health system has failed the people, leading to a historic mistrust of authorities. This lack of trust also highlights the importance of robust information and public education campaigns to promote vaccination. The COVID-19 Pandemic has brought new attention to the health equity crisis on a national and global scale and the complexity of building solutions.

CDC and Other Updates – Unmask the Facts

Pandemic Death Toll Far Exceeds Reported Totals, W.H.O. Says

Nearly 15 million more people died during the first two years of the Pandemic than has been reported, the W.H.O. found. READ MORE about this new report on the COVID death toll in this CNN story.

New COVID-19 Cases Increase in U.S. as the BA.2 Subvariant Spreads

The CDC estimates that the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron accounts for more than four-fifths of coronavirus variants in the country. According to data from the CDC, the seven day moving average of U.S. COVID-19 cases was showing a nearly 5% increase in cases compared to the previous week. Estimates suggest the highly transmissible BA.2 sub-variant made up 85.9% of COVID-19 variants in the U.S., up from 65.8% in March. READ MORE about BA.2.

New Omicron subvariants are creating more concern in the U.S. The members of the Omicron family are the BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5. Within the BA.2 family, many different variants have been identified, including some that fuel more infections than others. For example, the BA.2.12.1 variant is raising COVID-19 Community Levels to medium or high status in the Northeast U.S. The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are gaining attention from the World Health Organization. READ MORE about the subvariant increase.

Vaccinations Could have Prevented 300,000 COVID Deaths

A group of scientists suggest that nearly a third of the million COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. could have been prevented if more people had chosen to get vaccinated. Even though the unvaccinated continue to make up a majority of COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations, the number of Americans who say they won’t get a COVID-19 vaccine has remained steady for almost a year. One in three states have fully vaccinated less than 60% of their eligible populations. READ MORE about lives saved.

Mask Mandates Falling

A federal judge in Florida struck down the federal requirement to wear masks on airplanes, trains, buses, and other public transportation. The decision came shortly after the CDC extended the mask mandate through May 3. The ruling left it up to individual airlines and local transit agencies to decide what to do. Many of the nation’s largest airlines have since dropped their mask requirements for domestic flights. The Department of Justice is appealing the ruling. READ MORE about the mask ruling.

CDC Drops Remaining Countries from its ‘Do Not Travel’ List

The CDC updated its international COVID-19 travel advisory system, dropping all countries from their highest-risk category. The CDC removed all destinations from under its “Level 4: Special Circumstances/Do Not Travel” designation, which warns travelers to avoid nonessential travel due to very high levels of coronavirus cases. Over 100 countries are now in the Level 3 category known as “High Risk.” The CDC urges people who are not up to date on their vaccines to avoid travel to these countries. READ MORE about the change in travel advisory.

Boosters Recommendation

All adults 50 and older and all immunocompromised people 12 and older should get a second booster shot 4 months after their first booster shot. People who received the J&J (Janssen) vaccine as their primary series and first booster shot may get a second booster shot of an mRNA vaccine 4 months after their first. Only these three populations are currently eligible to receive a second booster shot. READ MORE about the latest booster recommendation.

Urging Vaccinations for Children

The CDC recommends that all children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old receive a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least 5 months after they’ve completed their primary series. All Americans over the age of 5 are now recommended to receive their first booster shot after a certain amount of time has passed (2 months for J&J recipients, 3 months for immunocompromised people 5 years old and older, and 5 months for everyone else). READ MORE about the booster recommendation for children.

Leading public health organizations released a joint statement urging that all children five years of age and older be vaccinated against COVID-19 to help protect them and their families from severe infections, hospitalizations, and even death and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community. These organizations declared that the strong data about vaccine safety and effectiveness allows parents to know they are making the best choice for their children’s health when they choose to get them vaccinated. READ MORE about vaccinations for children.

As of February 2022, about 75% of children in the U.S. had antibodies showing that they were previously infected with COVID-19, with 33% of new infections occurring since December 2021. Most COVID-19 infections analyzed in this study between September 2021 and February 2022 were in age groups with the lowest vaccination coverage. These findings illustrate a high infection rate for the Omicron variant, especially among children, and the benefits of vaccination. READ MORE about COVID and children at risk.

Moderna has submitted a request for emergency use authorization (EUA) of its COVID-19 vaccine in two new groups: 1) toddlers 6 months old to under 2 years old and 2) children 2 years old to under 6 years old. Positive interim results from their studies showed a robust neutralizing antibody response in both age groups after a two-dose primary series, along with a favorable safety profile. The FDA is still reviewing this data, and it hopes to reach a decision in June. READ MORE about the Moderna request for vaccinations for children.

The Latest on Long COVID-19 and its Treatments

The post-acute complications of coronavirus disease 2019 or “long COVID-19” are anticipated to substantially alter the lives of millions of people globally. COVID-19 is predicted to alter the long-term trajectory of many chronic cardiac diseases which are abundant in those at risk of severe disease. A new study proposes a possible model for referral of post-COVID-19 patients to cardiac services and discusses future directions for research. READ MORE about long COVID…

Power of the Booster

Three studies published by the CDC show that a COVID-19 booster shot provides the best protection against the Omicron variant and the new subvariant. One of the studies found that the booster shot was 90% effective at preventing COVID-19-associated emergency department or urgent care visits and hospitalizations during both the Delta and Omicron surges. All three studies found that unvaccinated people faced the highest risks of becoming sick with COVID-19. These findings highlight the importance of staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccination. READ MORE about the power of the booster…

Americans Can Order Another Round of Free at-home COVID Tests

U.S. households can now order an additional eight free at-home tests at covid.gov/tests, which brings the total number of free tests available to each household since the start of the program to 16. As the highly transmissible subvariants of Omicron drive a surge of cases in parts of the country, the White House believes free and accessible tests will help slow the spread of the virus. READ MORE about the free tests.

Update on Mask Quality

CDC has recently clarified that some types of masks and respirators provide more protection to the wearer against COVID-19 than others. Loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, layered finely woven products offer more protection, well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection, and well-fitting NIOSH approved respirators (including N95s) offer the highest level of protection. Overall, CDC recommends wearing the most protective mask that you can, ensuring that the mask fits well, and finding one that can be worn consistently. READ MORE about the most effective masks…

Vaccine Update

The J&J COVID-19 vaccine is now only available to individuals 18 years of age and older who cannot receive an mRNA vaccine because mRNA vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate. Those with personal concerns about the mRNA vaccines can also still choose to get the J&J vaccine instead. The FDA has made this decision based on the risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), which they outline in their updated fact sheet. READ MORE about the FDA placing further limits on the use of the Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster has been approved for 16-17 year-olds.

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines have received full F.D.A. approval for adults. The Moderna vaccine was the most recent to receive full approval. READ MORE on the latest vaccine approvals…

In addition, new CDC guidelines allow people to “mix and match” which COVID-19 vaccine they take as a booster. A booster for Pfizer and Moderna recipients is now recommended 5 months after the second dose for people 65 and up and some younger adults. A booster for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for people 18 and older at least two months after their initial dose. READ MORE about mixing vaccines…

The FDA updated the Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include children 5-11 years old. This pediatric vaccine is administered as a two-dose primary series, 3 weeks apart, but uses a lower dose (10 micrograms) than that one for individuals over the age of 12 (30 micrograms). As of 11/2, CDC formally recommended this vaccine to children 5-11 years old. READ MORE more about vaccine approval for children…

Antiviral Pills

FDA regulators have authorized two antiviral medications to treat covid-19, one from Pfizer and a second from Merck. Both the Paxlovid pill from Pfizer and Merck’s Molnupiravir are considered useful tools in the fight against the coronavirus. In order to be effective, however, they must be given very early in an infection.

Disclaimer: This project was funded in part by a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant number 1 NU50CK000588-01-00. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this resource center do not necessarily represent the policy of CDC or HHS and should not be considered an endorsement by the Federal Government.