Public opinion has turned against him
Five years ago, the world as we knew it changed forever. It was a dark time as the world began to hear about a new virus called COVID-19. Today, this term conjures painful memories, but the hardships of the pandemic are still a reality for many. Also known as the coronavirus, COVID-19 caused many parts of the world to go into a total lockdown. In some places, you couldn't leave your house unless you were masked and headed to the grocery store or pharmacy.
Today, there are still several questions that remain unanswered. In this gallery, you'll find out more about this pandemic-inducing disease and the mysteries that still plague the world today.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For most people who get infected, the symptoms are mild to moderate. However, some people become seriously ill and require medical attention.
Over 13 billion vaccine doses have been administered globally, yet there were still significant disparities in vaccine access and distribution, particularly in low-income countries. A slower rollout there could have prolonged waves of infection and increased mortality rates.
Countries with weaker healthcare systems struggled a lot. From overwhelmed hospitals to insufficient supplies of life-saving treatments such as ventilators and antiviral medications, many hospitals saw the worst of COVID-19.
The pandemic made global health challenges worse. There were significant increases in anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.
COVID-19 as a whole widened socioeconomic gaps. It disproportionality affected marginalized communities and frontline workers. There were issues like school closures, job losses, and housing insecurity that added to the strain.
Yes, COVID-19 still exists today. In fact, experts expect it will "continue being a significant and persistent threat to public health."
This is especially true for vulnerable or older adults who accounted for a larger share of the hospitalizations and deaths.
In short, scientists still don't know. The theory is that it circulated in bats.
After the bats were infected, it's speculated that other species such as raccoons, dogs, bamboo rats, and others were infected. Eventually, their infections passed to humans as they handled or butchered those animals in Wuhan markets, the location of the first human case in November 2019.
The aforementioned theory hasn't been proven and those more conspiracy-minded believe that a research lab in Wuhan may have leaked the virus while collecting and studying it.
In late December 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) called on China to share more information with the investigators who were looking into the origins of the pandemic. In response, China said that they had already shared "extensive data and research findings with the international community."
There is really no way of knowing for certain if there will be a definitive answer as to where the pandemic came from somewhere down the line.
The answer to this is likely more than 20 million. The WHO reported that member countries had more than seven million deaths from COVID-19. However, the true death toll is estimated at three times that amount, if not more.
The European region reported approximately 2.1 million deaths in the five years following February 2020.
Scientists and vaccine manufacturers developed the COVID-19 vaccine extremely quickly. It was less than a year after China identified the virus that US and UK health authorities cleared the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Today, you can also find a more traditional vaccine made by Novavax. Some countries have also tried other options.
Getting vaccines to poorer countries took more time than financially developed countries.
Vaccines aren't perfect, but for the most part, they do a good job of preventing severe symptoms, hospitalization, and death. They have been proven safe and only have some rare serious side effects.
Annual shots such as those for the flu or COVID-19 must be regularly updated to match ever-evolving viruses. Researchers are working to develop next-generation vaccines such as nasal vaccines that may do a better job blocking infections.
Genetic changes known as mutations happen as viruses make copies of themselves. These variants were named after Greek letters: alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and omicron.
In November 2021, a new variant called Omicron came on the scene. It was spread rapidly and was "dominating within weeks."
The WHO said that, on average, omicron caused less severe disease when compared to the delta variant. Scientists theorized that this is because the population had already built some immunity thanks to the vaccinations and infections.
Since omicron showed up, there seem to be subvariants accumulating different mutations.
As of January 2025, the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in Europe was KP.3.1.1, a sub-lineage of omicron. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), KP.3.1.1 has been prevalent in France since July 2024.
Existing COVID-19 medications and the latest vaccine booster should be effective against variants to come.
There are likely millions of people who live with something known as long-term COVID-19. Some people develop persistent problems that can last at least three months and even sometimes for years. Symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, pain, and cardiovascular problems.
Doctors are unsure why only some people get long COVID. It seems to happen at any age and can even be caused by a mild case.
Long COVID's cause isn't clear to doctors and medical professionals. This can severely complicate searching for a treatment.
Sources: (BBC) (WHO) (CNN World) (Euro News)
See also: Long before COVID: the deadliest pandemics in history
Five years after the COVID outbreak, questions remain unanswered
Here's what you need to know
LIFESTYLE Pandemic
Five years ago, the world as we knew it changed forever. It was a dark time as the world began to hear about a new virus called COVID-19. Today, this term conjures painful memories, but the hardships of the pandemic are still a reality for many. Also known as the coronavirus, COVID-19 caused many parts of the world to go into a total lockdown. In some places, you couldn't leave your house unless you were masked and headed to the grocery store or pharmacy.
Today, there are still several questions that remain unanswered. In this gallery, you'll find out more about this pandemic-inducing disease and the mysteries that still plague the world today.