Why did the world seem to be approaching the end of the Corona pandemic, despite the control of the mutated Omicron in most countries of the world?

Arab weather - Most countries of the world have recently begun to abandon precautionary measures such as distancing, closures, and (PCR) checks, and even obligatory masks or quarantine for the injured, realizing that any measures currently are absurd, and they will not be able to stop the mutated "Omicron" from spreading, as The world has begun to see signs of recovery from the epidemic, despite the number of infections that are still large, but hospital admissions and deaths have decreased significantly, and are not more than what we see with the seasonal flu, so are we facing the end of the Corona pandemic?

The mutant "Omikon" spreads faster, but is less severe

Dr. Hossam Abu Farsakh, a consultant for the diagnosis of histological and clinical diseases in Jordan, told Al-Rai newspaper that "Omicron" is the most rapidly spreading virus known to mankind so far. In comparison with measles, for example, one case of measles can infect 760 thousand cases. While one case of Omicron can cause 14 million infections within two months.

He added, that what distinguishes the mutant "Omicron" compared to previous strains of the Corona virus, is that it spreads much faster, but at the same time it has become less severe, as a result of changing the way in which it enters cells, as it is characterized by that it continues to multiply on the surfaces of cells and enters them late, and its entry into cells. In a different way from the previous strains, as it does not affect the receptors that enter it into the lungs, and therefore remains confined only to the upper respiratory organs.

Abu Farsakh pointed out that as a result of the different “Omicron” entering the cells, it became more susceptible to interferon immunity emanating from the body, in addition to the unprecedented speed of its spread and in a simultaneous timing for the whole world. .

Europe may see the end of the pandemic

The World Health Organization has announced that Europe is in a "ceasefire"-like state with the Corona virus, indicating that Europe may see the end of the pandemic.

"After two years of the outbreak of Covid-19, Europe may soon enter a 'prolonged lull' due to high vaccination rates, the spread of the less dangerous omicron mutant and the approaching end of winter," said Hans Kluge, director of the World Health Organization in Europe.

He added, "This context, which we have not witnessed before during this pandemic, puts us in front of the possibility of a long period of calm," noting that "this period of higher protection should be seen as a truce that may bring us lasting peace."

The end of the Corona pandemic...between optimism and caution

Professor Kamel Janouhat, President of the Algerian Society of Immunology, stated that the absence of a new strain of the Corona virus suggests the end of the pandemic and its transformation into an endemic virus like seasonal influenza. He added that the control of the Omicron strain over the rest of the strains in various countries of the world is a matter of optimism, "because most of the world's population has acquired natural immunity after being infected with this mutation."

Januhat added that the positions of experts from the beginning of the end of the pandemic were divided into two opinions.

No return to closures, and the next mutations will not be more violent

A member of the National Epidemiological Committee in Jordan, Dr. Bassam Hijjawi, confirmed that there was no speculation about the end of the Corona pandemic globally, saying: “No one claims when Corona will end.”

Al-Hijjawi said that although he detected in Jordan a mutant BA.2 of "Omicron", which is rapidly spreading, but it did not change anything in the outbreak and symptoms.

He indicated that it has become known to everyone about the epidemiological privacy of Corona and its symptoms, stressing that there is no return to closures and quarantine.

He added that Corona witnessed thousands of mutations, but only 5 of them succeeded, and that the mutations coming from a virus will not be more violent than the previous ones.

The importance of the vaccine in order to live with the virus

Hijjawi stressed the importance of receiving the vaccine, and that receiving the vaccine does not prevent infection with the Corona virus, but it protects against admission to the hospital, and in the event of hospitalization, it prevents the risk of entering intensive care, and if this is done, it protects against death.

On Friday (March 11), Hijjawi stated that the 97 deaths last week in Jordan, 90% of them are over 65 years old, and they did not receive the two doses of the Corona vaccine and the booster dose, and of them only received one dose.

He said that last week, 60,000 people received the first dose of the Corona vaccine, calling for the launch of a campaign to promote the vaccine. He stressed the need to continue vaccination, until the World Health Organization announces coexistence with Corona, by obtaining the second and third doses of the vaccine.

We will enter the holy month of Ramadan "safely"

Hijjawi expected the World Health Organization to announce the end of the Corona pandemic globally this year, and to work on it as a seasonal disease.

He added that Jordan will witness early next month the end of the fourth wave of Corona, stressing that Jordanians will enter the blessed month of Ramadan "safely", God willing.