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As COVID cases wind down once again, the questions of when and if COVID will become an endemic become more common

Craig Destree, MD, Aspirus Hospitalist.
Aspirus
Craig Destree, MD, Aspirus Hospitalist.

Daily COVID cases are now the lowest they’ve been since August.

The state is averaging fewer than 1,500 cases a day.

As case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths from this latest surge continues to drop, the term “endemic” has started coming up more.

“We use endemic to describe typically some kind of pathogen, viruses, bacteria, even certain fungi that have become a permanent fixture within our life,” said Aspirus Hospitalist Craig Destree.

In terms of COVID, the switch to endemic will mean it won’t be as severe.

Deaths and hospitalizations will be rarer.

Destree also says it will likely become seasonal like the colds and flus we’re used to now.

He says it’s a little premature to know that for sure, but it’s likely where we’re headed.

“It’ll probably be a few years yet before we don’t have COVID wards from time to time, but hopefully within 5 to 10 years the idea of COVID wards and having to do COVID-specific measures like masking are a thing of the past and it’s just another virus we’ve learned to live with,” said Destree.

Destree says the number one way to get us to an endemic stage faster is for people to get vaccinated, including their boosters.

Katie Thoresen is WXPR's News Director/Vice President.
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