'It ain't over:' COVID-19 won't become an endemic until the world is vaccinated
Canadians have heard it from health officials and politicians alike—it's time to start living with COVID-19.
But what does this mean and when can we consider the pandemic over?
An "endemic" is described—in its most simple definition—as a time in which there is constant presence of a virus, but it's not actively spreading.
While health officials in Canada have started to hint the country is approaching endemic rates of infection, other experts warn we may still be months away from achieving it.
On this week's episode of Life Unmasked, the team speaks with two such experts—a professor of immunology and a special advisor with the World Health Organization (WHO)—who cautions that while Canada may be faring well, COVID-19 can't be considered endemic unless the majority of people on planet earth have been vaccinated.
"To kind of channel a song that I think everyone's heard of … it ain't over till it's over," Dr. Peter Singer, Special Advisor to the Director General of the WHO, told Life Unmasked. "And it's definitely, it ain't over."
The WHO says that in order to end the acute phase of the pandemic by the end of 2022, they have set a goal that every country in the world should vaccinate about 70 per cent of their population. They hope to help facilitate that goal by July.
"And we're not totally on track for that," he said, adding that it's also dangerous to assume Omicron is the last COVID-19 variant of concern.
Life Unmasked also spoke with Dr. Eleanor Fish, a professor of immunology at the University of Toronto, who said there is no singular list of criteria that is used when deciding a virus is in its endemic stage. There is also the question of whether or not the virus will evolve to be more like the flu or mutate to evade immunity.
CTV News Toronto's podcast Life Unmasked airs first on the iHeart app before becoming available on other streaming platforms. If you have questions for the podcast team, or an idea for an episode, please email lifeunmasked@bellmedia.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Some structural damage' from wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., mayor confirms
More than one home has been damaged or lost due to a massive wildfire outside of the B.C. community of Fort Nelson, the mayor confirmed Tuesday.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver says he got a cellphone ticket for using his points app in the drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
Chief says grave search at B.C. residential school brings things 'full circle'
Chief Robert Michell says relief isn't the right word to describe his reaction as the search begins for unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school he attended in northern British Columbia.
B.C. YouTuber ordered to pay $350K for 'relentless' online defamation campaign
An 'unrepentant' YouTuber has been ordered to pay $350,000 in damages as compensation for a 'relentless' campaign of defamation waged online against a business owner and his company, the B.C. Supreme Court has ruled.
'Endless Shrimp' just one misstep for Red Lobster as it eyes bankruptcy protection
While it's unclear what these closures might mean for the 27 restaurants in Canada, Red Lobster is expected to file for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. this month.
New study shows financial impact of homelessness on our health-care system
A new study out of London, Ont. lays out the cost of the homelessness crisis on our health-care system.
Ontario's 'Crypto King' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Of the $40-million Aiden Pleterski was handed over two years, documents show he invested just over one per cent and instead spent $15.9 million on "his personal lifestyle." The 25-year-old Oshawa, Ont. man was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering on Tuesday.
B.C. man shot sex worker in the back during drug-fuelled birthday, court hears
A man from B.C.'s Lower Mainland has been sentenced to four years behind bars after shooting a sex worker in the back during a drug-fuelled 43rd birthday.
'Inhumane conditions': 68 dogs pulled from Winnipeg home
Nearly six dozen dogs were seized from a home Wednesday morning by the Winnipeg Humane Society. It is the largest known seizure of animals in the city’s history.