Blog

The COVID-19 pandemic has held the world in its grip since March 16, 2020. Quarantines, lockdowns, mask mandates—two years later, most restrictions have been lifted, yet we are still dealing with rising infection rates and overwhelmed hospitals. We need a long-term strategy. Let’s take a look at what this could look like.

For several months now, a more contagious variant of the virus, the Omicron variant, has increasingly been detected. This variant is spreading exponentially and poses a serious threat. What is concerning is that after an Omicron infection, often an insufficient level of immune protection is developed. While the immunity is enough to protect against severe cases and long COVID, hardly anyone is fully safe from getting infected. At this point, the virus is here to stay—similar to the flu virus, which cannot be completely eradicated.

Therefore, it is crucial to develop alternative strategies to protect people, in addition to vaccination. Even if the government doesn’t take action, it’s up to us to take responsibility. Each individual can contribute to protecting themselves and others. It’s important to rely on proven protective measures when daily infection numbers rise. This includes wearing FFP2 masks, maintaining social distance, and regularly washing or disinfecting hands. Additionally, regular COVID-19 testing should be considered.

However, the most important protective measure remains vaccination. It offers the best protection against severe illness, is safe, and well-tolerated. Even mild cases can leave lasting damage, which can be prevented with a vaccine.

Closing Words

Although we are occupied with other global challenges like wars, rising inflation, and the climate crisis, we must not ignore COVID-19. The pandemic is not over yet, and it’s our responsibility to slow the spread of the virus. We must learn to live with the virus by implementing structured measures and continuously evolving our protective strategies.