Since the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19 or SARS CoV-2 infection) has been declared as pandemic, it caused worldwide turbulence affecting the health (1), economy (2, 3), social life (4), and politics (5) of nations. Until December 25, 2022, the pandemic has infected 659,922,862 and killed 6,679,269 people globally (6).
Many countries have been experiencing multiple waves of coronavirus outbreaks though the intensity varies from area to area. Despite aggressive vaccination interventions and other preventive strategies, daily reports of new cases of COVID-19 are continuing from many parts of the world indicating a journey toward endemic COVID-19 (Figure) (6). Each day, over half a million new cases are being reported. In recent months, many countries are observing a surge of new domestically transmitted cases indicating the start of another wave (6).
Figure 1.
Though a lot is known about COVID-19 virus and the disease, there are still issues that remained obscure. As a result, the world may still face waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. As an adaptation is a mechanism to environmental change, COVID-19 is undergoing mutations and genetic variation to ensure survival. Whatever the virulence of the virus is emergence of new variant is inevitable. Studies indicate that mutations can act as a double-edged sword in any virus including COVID-19 infection where the genetic alterations can generate either an attenuated or strengthened viruses (7).
Therefore, countries need to continue implementing the already proven preventive strategies, remain vigilant of the rise of new cases and prepare for timely responses.
The current issue of the Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, the first regular issue for the year 2023, contains an editorial, nineteen original articles and two case reports. Three of the original articles and one of the case reports in this issue deal one way or in another with COVID-19 infection.
I invite readers to read through these articles and appreciate or utilize the contents. I also urge readers to forward comments and suggestions to the editor or the corresponding authors.
References
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