On January 18, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the US. Since then, in only 2.5 years, the global pandemic has resulted in 588 757 628 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6 433 794 deaths (as of August 8, 2022). While the world is (once again) gradually reopening, the lingering social and economic effects of the pandemic are clearly felt, with national lockdowns and school closures still ongoing in 23 countries. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently forecasted a new wave of COVID-19, predicted to peak in the autumn and winter months, suggesting the potential need to reinstate disruptive measures in the northern hemisphere.
Source: JAMA Online First