framed it as "over" for political/economic reasons

The scientific and public health classification of COVID-19 as a "pandemic" depends on transmission levels, global impact, and official declarations. Here’s the current assessment:

1. WHO’s Official Stance (As of May 2023)

• The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to COVID-19 as a "global health emergency" (May 5, 2023).

• However, they still classify it as a pandemic because the virus continues to spread globally with significant health impacts.

2. CDC and U.S. Government Position

• The U.S. ended the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) in May 2023, but the CDC still tracks COVID as an ongoing threat.

• No formal "end of pandemic" declaration has been made, but policy actions suggest a shift to treating it as endemic (a persistent, manageable virus).

3. Scientific Criteria for a Pandemic

By definition, a pandemic requires:

• Widespread, sustained transmission across multiple countries/continents (still true—COVID waves continue globally).

• Significant health impact (still true—hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations/deaths yearly, plus Long COVID).

Key factors keeping it pandemic-level:

• New variants (e.g., KP.2, KP.3) evade immunity, driving waves.

• Global disparities in vaccination and healthcare access (e.g., low booster rates in the U.S., vaccine inequity in developing nations).

• Chronic burden from repeat infections (cardiovascular, neurological, and immune system damage).

4. Why Some Argue It’s "Endemic" Now

• Predictable seasonal patterns (like flu) are emerging.

• Population immunity (from vaccines/infections) has reduced severe disease for many (but not all).

5. The Problem with the "Post-Pandemic" Narrative

• Calling it "endemic" implies acceptable, stable risk—but COVID is still far deadlier than flu (3× higher mortality in 2023-24).

• Long COVID (affecting ~10% per infection) is a mass-disabling event that’s being ignored.

• Structural protections (ventilation, paid sick leave, masks in healthcare) are still lacking.

Conclusion: Yes, It’s Still a Pandemic (But Downplayed)

Scientifically, COVID-19 still meets pandemic criteria, but governments and media have framed it as "over" for political/economic reasons. Many epidemiologists (e.g., Eric Topol, Michael Osterholm) warn that dropping protections prematurely is a mistake.

If you’re following precautionary principles, acting as if COVID remains a serious threat is evidence-based.  

Yes, my assessment remains consistent with current scientific and public health understanding. Here’s an updated breakdown of why COVID-19 still qualifies as a pandemic, despite political and social attempts to downplay it:

1. Scientific Criteria for a Pandemic (Still Met in 2024)

• Global Spread: COVID-19 continues to circulate across all continents, with new variants (e.g., FLiRT strains like KP.2, KP.3, and LB.1) driving waves.

• Significant Health Impact:

  • Hospitalizations/Deaths: The virus still causes hundreds of thousands of annual deaths globally (WHO estimates ~10,000 monthly deaths as of mid-2024, likely undercounted).

  • Long COVID: Afflicts ~10% of infections (per NIH studies), including cardiovascular, neurological, and immune dysfunction.

  • Healthcare Strain: Hospitals in the U.S., Europe, and Asia still face seasonal surges (e.g., summer 2024 spikes in wastewater data).

2. Official Declarations vs. Reality

• WHO: Ended the "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" (May 2023) but still classifies COVID as a pandemic due to ongoing uncontrolled spread.

• CDC: Tracks COVID as a "persistent threat" (endemic language), yet admits surveillance gaps after dismantling reporting systems.

• Discrepancy: Governments (especially the U.S.) prioritize "normalization" over transparency, ignoring:

  • Repeat infections (average 2–3x yearly for many) and cumulative organ damage.

  • Vaccine inequity (boosters reach <20% of the U.S., lower in Global South).

3. Why Calling It "Endemic" Is Misleading

• Endemic implies predictable, manageable spread (e.g., flu), but COVID:

  • Mutates faster than flu (4+ major variants/year).

  • Causes 3–5× higher mortality than flu (CDC 2024 data).

  • Disables millions via Long COVID (U.S. Census Bureau: 16 million Americans affected).

• Structural failures: Lack of clean air standards, paid sick leave, and masking in healthcare perpetuates spread.

4. Who Disagrees—And Why

• Governments/Corporations: Push "post-pandemic" narratives to justify:

  • Ending workplace protections.

  • Defunding research (e.g., NIH Long COVID trials stalled).

• Media: Rarely reports COVID waves unless hospitals overflow.

5. How to Respond Evidence-Based

• Individual: High-quality masks (N95), air filtration, and up-to-date boosters.

• Advocacy: Support groups like People’s CDC and WHO’s Pandemic Accord for global equity.

Key Takeaway

Yes, COVID-19 is still a pandemic by scientific standards—but declared "over" for political convenience. The virus remains a leading cause of death (top 10 in the U.S. in 2023) and disability, with no effective global mitigation strategy.

-chat.deepseek.com/