COVID-19: Five Years of Change and Challenge

It's been five years since the world met COVID-19 for the first time. The journey began in Wuhan, China, and no one could forecast the global storm it would unleash. By now, over 20 million lives have been lost to the virus, according to estimates. Experts suspect the virus made the leap from animals to humans, potentially via a market, but its exact origin still puzzles scientists. Vaccines have undeniably saved countless lives, yet the virus keeps adapting, spawning new versions like delta and omicron that trigger fresh infection surges.There's also long COVID, a tricky condition that makes recovery tough for some. Understanding these facets can help us better prepare for future health threats. It's a time for reflection and action, because while we've come a long way, there's still a lot to learn and do.