The year 2022 marked the beginning of the end of the Covid-19 pandemic for much of the world.

After several failed re-opening attempts in many countries, the shift was palpable. The arrival of the Omicron variant in late 2021, with its ability to re-infect people, and the subsequent record spike in Covid cases, fueled scientists' worst fears and confounded predictions for a return to normalcy.

However, in the months that followed, a more stable scenario emerged. So far, emerging coronavirus variants have remained closely related to Omicron without significantly altering its impact.


Protective

Vaccination protects many people from severe disease and death, and a new generation of booster shots targeting Omicron variants has been introduced. The medical community has also improved its treatment arsenal for those who become ill.

As a result, masks were removed in many places, schools resumed in-person classes, holiday travel and large celebrations resumed.

"The pandemic is over," US President Joe Biden declared in September, referring to Americans' changing behavior.

While acknowledging a shift in outlook, global health officials warned the public not to relax their guard.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has yet to declare the Covid public health emergency to be over.


Why it is significant

Many experts believe that the year 2023 will bring Covid's full impact on global health into sharp focus.

According to data, the pandemic has hampered all aspects of healthcare, from childhood immunizations to cancer screenings. Some countries' life expectancy has fallen, while mental health concerns have skyrocketed. And the consequences of long Covid are only now being recognized, while gaps in national healthcare systems have been exposed to an unprecedented degree.

The question, experts say, is whether these changes will last and what policies can be put in place to respond.


Improved future response

The WHO is negotiating a pandemic treaty to govern a more effective response to future outbreaks.

Covid will continue to necessitate caution in people with compromised immune systems, as well as in general when cases increase. In such cases, people should reconsider wearing masks in crowded places and keep up to date on available vaccinations.

As gaps in Covid testing and vaccination rates widen, infectious disease experts remain on high alert for a new coronavirus variant that could severely undermine vaccines and treatments.