As Omicron Takes Hold and Other New Variants Arise, COVID-19 Testing Remains the Universally Agreed Tool to Effect Transition From Pandemic to Endemic State

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  • Miller, Melissa B.
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
  • Ooi, Eng Eong
    • Other Affiliation: Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
  • Rhoads, Daniel D.
    • Other Affiliation: Case Western Reserve University
  • Kulldorff, Martin
    • Other Affiliation: Harvard Medical School
  • Anderson, Danielle E.
    • Other Affiliation: University of Melbourne
  • Lee, Hyukmin
    • Other Affiliation: Yonsei University College of Medicine
  • Gupta, Sunetra
    • Other Affiliation: University of Oxford
  • Krajden, Mel
    • Other Affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory
Abstract
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 448 million cases and 6 million deaths worldwide to date. Omicron is now the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant, making up more than 90% of cases in countries reporting sequencing data. As the pandemic continues into its third year, continued testing is a strategic and necessary tool for transitioning to an endemic state of COVID-19. Here, we address three critical topics pertaining to the transition from pandemic to endemic: defining the endemic state for COVID-19, highlighting the role of SARS-CoV-2 testing as endemicity is approached, and recommending parameters for SARS-CoV-2 testing once endemicity is reached. We argue for an approach that capitalizes on the current public health momentum to increase capacity for PCR-based testing and whole genome sequencing to monitor emerging infectious diseases. Strategic development and utilization of testing, including viral panels in addition to vaccination, can keep SARS-CoV-2 in a manageable endemic state and build a framework of preparedness for the next pandemic.
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  • Article
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  • In Copyright
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  • Attribution 4.0 International
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  • Frontiers in Public Health
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  • 10
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  • English
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  • 2296-2565

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