Current state of affairs
In 2024, the global situation of COVID-19 has improved significantly. In 2024, the global situation of COVID-19 has improved significantly. This is due to widespread vaccination campaigns, precaution awareness, and the development of effective treatments, etc. (Huang, 2023). They key vaccinations approved by WHO include: Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, etc, which are distributed globally (Roknuzzaman et al. 2024). Where, WHO has played a key role. It has been reported by the WHO that till January 2024, there is a 4% increase in Covid cases, whereas the death rate has decreased by 26%. Although, there were more than 774 million confirmed cases found, globally by 7th January 2024 (WHO, 2024).
According to (Ducharme, 2024), SARS-CoV-2 still has some pandemic features, but it is still a highly transmissible disease-causing deaths and disability, in the world. However, it is not novel, anymore. The majority of the world has immunity to resist the virus, mainly due to vaccinations, prior infections, or both. It is a seasonal infection, although the use of makes, test kits, vaccines, intensive treatment has reduced the number of COVID cases and deaths in the duration of four years (Ducharme, 2024), as shown below:
(Ducharme, 2024)
Local and External Approaches
Under the supervision of WHO, almost all the countries have adopted vaccinations to protect their nation. Also, different governments have implemented Strict SOPs and programs to control COVID-19, over time. For example, masks were mandatory, social distancing and lockdowns have been used at different stages to control the virus spread (Akhtar et al. 2021). Furthermore, WHO has revamped the 2005 International health Regulations (IHR). This regulation set requirements for different States to report the outbreaks, manage diseases, and manage border cooperation to prevent the spread, etc. (Hathaway, & Phillips-Robins, 2020). Before COVID-19, IHR only covered three diseases: cholera, plague and yellow fever. Although, the new regulations cover all potential public health hazards and stricter control mechanisms in case of any outbreak, in the future. The member countries/states need to abide by this regulation (Hathaway, & Phillips-Robins, 2020).
Effective results and condition
Moreover, WHO declared that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency at the international level, on 5th May 2023. Nevertheless, the pandemic has profoundly affected the social, economic, educational and health sectors of the world (Roknuzzaman et al. 2024). Hence. Now businesses have re-opened, and people are going for physical jobs, which is helping the countries and individuals to restore economic and social stability and growth. Also, students are receiving in-person and in-class learning sessions, rather than online education. Similarly, most tourism sectors in the world have been reopened and the burden of the healthcare sector has also been reduced (Roknuzzaman et al. 2024). However, low- and middle-income countries still face challenges in managing COVID cases, due to less vaccination and treatment access, poor power supply, electricity means, and healthcare infrastructure and facilities (Boro, & Stoll, 2022).
