It's been one year since the COVID state of emergency ended—what we've learned
Plus, what products can offer the best protection.
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May 2024 marks the one-year anniversary of COVID-19 losing its designation as an emergency both by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States government. While the state of emergency has ended, various variants of COVID-19 are still out there, so it’s important to stay vigilant by taking proper precautions.
We talked to a health professional to discuss lessons learned from years with the pandemic, lessons that remain relevant long after the end to the state of emergency. Here’s everything you need to know about the COVID-19 state of emergency ending, the latest variants, and things we’re learned since the advent of the pandemic.
When did COVID-19 stop being considered an emergency?
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it would be dropping its emergency classification for COVID-19 on May 5, 2023. The WHO cited a downward trend in the number of infections as the reason for COVID-19’s change in classification; up to that point, the week of May 5 saw the lowest number of cases since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began tracking cases in early 2020. The United States similarly ended its recognition of COVID-19 as a national emergency on May 11 of that year.
While COVID-19 isn’t officially classified as an emergency anymore, it’s important to recognize that it’s still out there, as shown by the proliferation of new variants such as FliRT COVID.
What is FliRT COVID?
FliRT refers to a family of omicron COVID-19 offshoots consisting of variants KP.1.1 and KP.2. Together, the two variants make up around 35% of all new cases. FliRT variants may spread more easily due to spike mutations recently and because of their arrival after the latest booster.
When did COVID start?
The first American case was reported on January 20, 2020. The outbreak was officially declared a national emergency in the U.S. on March 13, 2020.
Changes in behavior since the start of the pandemic
One professional we spoke to was Susan Hassig, Associate Professor Emerita of Epidemiology at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. When we asked her opinion on what positive behavioral changes the pandemic brought about, she mentioned the continued use of masks in public by at-risk populations.
“I suspect that many people are still being a bit cautious about going into large group settings for extended periods of time,” Hassig says.
Hassig’s optimism is tempered by the negative behaviors that she and other health professionals have observed, particularly when it comes to the vaccine rate not being where they would like it to be, including among at-risk populations.
Things we’ve learned since the pandemic began
Not all masks are created equal
Masks remain one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from getting sick with COVID-19, though it took us a bit to figure out exactly what types of masks were—and were not—effective. Various doodads such as face shields and gaiter masks were used by many in the early months of the pandemic before being phased out as their inefficacy was exposed. Cloth masks, in particular, rose in popularity due to how customizable they were, and were widely used for a year before it was revealed that they, too, aren’t the most effective in blocking germs.
Today's gold standard in safe masking is an N95 or a KN95 mask. The names come from their effectiveness, as they can filter 95% of particles responsible for the spread of airborne diseases. We learned through this experience that it's important to wary of fake KN95 and N95 masks. One of the best tells for fake KN95 masks is the brand advertising a mask as being NIOSH- or FDA-approved. Genuine KN95 masks will also have a serial number printed on them, beginning with the letters “GB.”
Genuine KN95 and N95 maks are the best shields against COVID-19.
Disinfectant spray and wipes must be used properly
We learned that one way that COVID-19 can spread is through contaminated surfaces that contain viral droplets. You can inadvertently touch these droplets and get sick by touching your hands to your face or an open cut. To avoid this, disinfectant spray can be used to clean these high-contact areas. However, it’s important to use a spray that is listed on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s list of disinfectants that are confirmed to kill coronavirus. What's more, the disinfectant must be applied by following the instructions on the label or must sit on the surface it's being applied to for at least 10 minutes to be most effective.
Disinfect surfaces properly with these wipes.
There’s a right and wrong way to wash your hands
As stated, COVID-19 and similar viruses can be contracted when you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands after encountering viral particles. While this can be mitigated by disinfecting surfaces, Professor Hassig prioritizes the importance of hand washing, noting that it’s much easier to simply clean your hands in a pinch rather than disinfect surfaces thoroughly.
The proper way to keep your hands clean is to wash them thoroughly. This involves rinsing your hands with warm water, lathering them with soap for 20 seconds (or roughly the length of time it takes to sing the “Alphabet Song” or “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”, and then rinsing your hands with warm water.
Lather your hands for 20 seconds.
Read hand sanitizer labels carefully
While the CDC prioritizes using soap and water to disinfect hands, it suggests the use of hand sanitizer when soap and water isn’t available. In 2020, DIY hand sanitizer was all the rage because of the hand sanitizer shortage, but before you go and jerry-rig your own sanitizer, you should know it needs to be at least 60% alcohol. If you don’t want to figure out how to ensure your own hand sanitizer is at least 60%, we suggest buying portable, pre-made hand sanitizer that will disinfect your hands in a pinch. Just read the label for its alcohol content before purchasing.
Use hand sanitizer made with at least 60% alcohol.
Monitor symptoms appropriately
The CDC recently released new COVID-19 guidelines that reduce the amount of time you need to isolate when exposed to the virus. While the time needed to isolate is shortened, Hassig stresses the importance of still isolating for either five days or as long as a person is symptomatic, which she notes will probably last around the same amount of time.
To know when to isolate, it’s important to know when you’re displaying symptoms. One common symptom is running a fever, which is defined by the CDC as a temperature of 100.4ºF or higher). Other symptoms, across variants, include:
Runny or stuffy nose
Headache
Fatigue
Sneezing
Sore throat
Coughing
Changes to sense of smell
A fever is one of the more common symptoms of COVID-19.
The only way to know for sure whether you have COVID-19 is by taking a COVID-specific test. Fortunately, in the years since the pandemic first broke out, at-home tests have become widely available.
Testing is the only surefire way to determine if you have COVID-19.
Using an air purifier can help mitigate the spread
Another way to filter the air you breathe is by using an air purifier. Professor Susan Hassig identifies air filters as one of the most effective ways to clean an area of COVID-19 particulates.
It’s recommended by the CDC to place filters where someone is isolating or where someone high-risk resides, if applicable. In particular, they recommend the use of air purifiers with HEPA filters, as they satisfy the highest standard of efficiency when it comes to improving the air in your home.
Air purifiers are one of the most effective ways to rid an area of COVID-19 particulates.
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