Is the COVID-19 pandemic now endemic?

As of 5 May 2023, COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.¹ However, it has not yet reached endemic status, which is when a disease is restricted to a particular region or area, and while constantly present, is at manageable levels.²

While the number of cases and deaths are at the lowest level since the pandemic began, millions of people continue to be infected or re-infected with COVID-19 globally, and thousands are still dying each week. New variants may also continue to emerge, which could cause fresh surges in infection and deaths.³ Though there is hope that the COVID-19 pandemic is transitioning to become endemic, there is still a lot of uncertainty.³

In response to this current status of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided an updated Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan for 2023-2025.³ The previous plan, released in 2022, had two strategic objectives: to reduce the circulation of COVID-19, and to diagnose and treat COVID-19 to reduce mortality (death), morbidity (illness/symptoms), and long-term complications. The updated plan adds a third objective: to support countries as they transition from an emergency response to longer-term sustained disease prevention, control and management.³

As the first European country to experience the devastation of COVID-19, and to introduce stringent lockdown measures,⁴ Italy has been at the forefront of COVID-19 management and response. The first official COVID-19 vaccination campaign began on 27 December 2020, and vaccine distribution in Italy commenced on 31 December 2021.⁵ As of 4 October 2023, around 50 million people in Italy had been vaccinated against COVID-19, which is approximately 85% of the total population. In the age group most vulnerable to the virus, those 80 years and older, almost 96% have been vaccinated.⁶

In line with the WHO’s 2023-2025 COVID-19 plan, Italy’s efforts to manage the impact and spread of COVID-19 continues with an upcoming national COVID-19 vaccination campaign for the 2023/24 season.⁷ The goal of the campaign is to prevent hospitalisations and severe illness from COVID-19 in people aged 60 and over, as well as those in high-risk categories, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, and health and care workers.⁷ 

If you have any questions about COVID-19 and/or COVID-19 vaccines, please speak to your doctor or healthcare professional.