This is the new rhythm of covid waves. Many people are getting sick - some feeling lousy - especially after returning from vacation and conferences. Most probably won’t even know it’s covid because the symptoms can be indistinguishable from a cold or other respiratory bug. Yet hospitals are no longer flooded with patients because immune systems are much better trained to fight the virus five years after it arrived.
Several coronaviruses regularly infect people. They cause up to
30 percent of cases of common cold every year. Most people don’t care because we have been exposed to these coronaviruses since early childhood and our immune system can take care of them.
The virus that causes COVID was devastating because it was new and our species had no immunity. This new virus will not go anywhere but it’s going to be not a big deal in the future just like the other cornaviruses going around.
Humanity has never eradicated a virus that can move between species. The two viruses we have eliminated were each only contained to one species.
Several coronaviruses regularly infect people. They cause up to 30 percent of cases of common cold every year. Most people don’t care because we have been exposed to these coronaviruses since early childhood and our immune system can take care of them.
The virus that causes COVID was devastating because it was new and our species had no immunity. This new virus will not go anywhere but it’s going to be not a big deal in the future just like the other cornaviruses going around.
Humanity has never eradicated a virus that can move between species. The two viruses we have eliminated were each only contained to one species.