Five years since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which claimed seven million lives worldwide

(Patria) - Five years after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, mortality from the Covid-19 virus is in steady decline, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced today.

While in June 2021 a quarter of those hospitalised with the virus died, that figure has now fallen to one in 25, according to the WHO.

To date, according to figures from the UN body, there have been nearly 777 million recorded cases of Covid-19 worldwide, and 7 million people have died across 234 countries.

The pandemic peaked in 2020, 2021 and 2022, while this year, from mid-October to mid-November, 77 countries reported coronavirus cases, reports Index.hr.

🆕Special edition of the epidemiological update on COVID-19 with an overview of the situation since the disease was first reported to WHO nearly five years ago.

Remember, COVID-19 is still circulating and continues to make people sick and, in some cases, leads to severe disease… pic.twitter.com/LMRQfdeWp6

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 24, 2024

Long Covid remains a major problem, according to the WHO. Current figures show that the condition occurs in six percent of all cases of infection with the virus.

Vaccination provides effective protection in reducing the likelihood of long-term consequences, the organisation states. The virus continues to circulate, occasionally causing severe illness.

The significant reduction in testing means the WHO has a reduced ability to monitor the spread, severity and potential changes of the virus as effectively as before.