How does a pandemic become endemic?

SBS Indonesian

Could we see busy crowds return to our CBDs in the near future. Source: SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images

According to experts COVID-19 is likely to persist and that means the pandemic will end and the virus will become 'endemic'.

Follow and Subscribe

Apple Podcasts YouTube Spotify Download (10.62MB)

Download the SBS Audio appAvailable on iOS and Android

Published 10 September 2021 9:30pm

By Claudia Farhart

Presented by Ricky Kusumo

Source: SBS

Share this with family and friends

According to experts COVID-19 is likely to persist and that means the pandemic will end and the virus will become 'endemic'.

SBS World News spoke with two of the country's leading epidemiologists to find out how, and when, this pandemic will end. And the answer may not be what you expect.

So the question now is - at what point does the pandemic end, and COVID-19 becomes endemic?

Epidemiologists say Australians are now living with many endemic viruses.

More than 100 types of rhino virus – the cause of the common cold. And also dozens of adenoviruses, which can cause diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and conjunctivitis.

With nearly 20 million doses already administered, the transition from pandemic to endemic is drawing closer by the day.