The world is gradually moving towards a phase of "coexisting with the coronavirus," while some European countries have begun to gradually lift precautionary measures amidst protests in certain nations pressing for the cancellation of COVID-19 measures. Starting today, Thursday, New York State is lifting the mask mandate in indoor spaces, particularly in stores, restaurants, and businesses, as announced by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, coinciding with a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases in the United States.
Hochul confirmed at a press conference that the mask mandate, which expires this Thursday under New York State law, will still be in effect in schools until March. However, it will return to municipalities, including New York City, and it's up to businesses to decide whether to enforce it for their employees and customers. After being a pandemic hotspot in 2020 with over 38,000 deaths in the city alone over two years, Hochul praised the "declining" health indicators. The Democratic governor stated, "It's a wonderful sight… We are not finished yet, but the trend is very good, and that makes us consider a new phase of the pandemic going forward."
New York is following the lead of other Democratic-led states that have already announced similar measures since Monday, such as California, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Mask mandates serve as a very strong political signal in the United States, where a significant part of the right wing and the Republican Party views the face-covering requirement as an infringement on individual freedoms. Daily COVID-19 case counts in the United States are significantly decreasing, with a seven-day average not exceeding 250,000 cases, as reported by health authorities, a marked decline from the peak of 800,000 cases per day recorded in mid-January. The United States surpassed 900,000 COVID deaths as of February 4, according to Johns Hopkins University, having exceeded 800,000 deaths by mid-December.
### Sweden Scraps Remaining Restrictions
In parallel, Sweden lifted almost all remaining COVID-19 restrictions on Wednesday and ceased most testing for coronavirus infections, despite ongoing pressure on healthcare systems and calls from some scientists for more patience in combating the disease.
### WHO Calls on Wealthy Nations to Fund COVID-19 Response
On the same day, the World Health Organization urged wealthy nations to fairly contribute to the necessary funds for its COVID-19 elimination plan, calling for an urgent $16 billion. The organization reported half a million COVID-19 deaths since the discovery of the Omicron variant, describing this figure as "more than tragic."
### France and the UK
Moreover, the French government spokesperson announced that France sees "reasons for hope" in ending the use of the "vaccination passport" by late March or early April due to improved health conditions. He noted, "The number of people in hospitals remains high, and exceeds the record number we saw in the spring of 2020, but in our forecasts... there are reasons for hope that the situation will have improved enough to lift these final measures."
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed hopes to end the requirement for isolation of individuals who test positive for COVID-19 by the end of February, after England has already lifted most restrictions imposed to curb the virus. During the weekly government accountability session, he stated that he will return to Parliament on February 21, after the parliamentary recess, to present his plan for coexisting with COVID-19.
### New Zealand and Canada
In New Zealand, police arrested over 50 individuals on Thursday and began removing hundreds of protesters who had been demonstrating outside Parliament for three days against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations and strict restrictions. Several thousand protesters have blocked streets near Parliament in Wellington this week with trucks, cars, and motorcycles.
As concerns mount about the economic impact of trucker protests in Canada, which have continued into their thirteenth day despite health restrictions being eased in parts of the country, protesters aim to disrupt the economy by blocking key trade routes. The closure of the Ambassador Bridge, a major crossing with the United States, since Monday has heightened tensions. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated his previous message on Wednesday, stating, "I understand how exhausted and frustrated people are... but by following science and through vaccination, we will get through this crisis."
### South Korea and Hong Kong
Meanwhile, South Korea announced on Wednesday that it will abandon its "trace, test, and treat" health policy amid concerns that the rising number of Omicron infections could overwhelm the healthcare system, with over a million infections recorded over the weekend. A set of new measures will be gradually implemented starting this month, focusing on the most vulnerable groups, as stated by health officials.
In Hong Kong, residents rushed to buy supplies on Wednesday following the announcement of strict measures due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. Gatherings of more than two people were prohibited for the first time, and meetings between two families in a single household were banned. Places of worship and hair salons were also ordered to close.
The COVID-19 pandemic has officially claimed the lives of more than 5,761,646 people worldwide since December 2019. The United States has recorded the highest number of deaths (909,020), followed by Brazil (633,810), India (505,279), and Russia (337,390). According to estimates from the World Health Organization, the total death toll may be two to three times higher, considering excess deaths directly and indirectly related to COVID-19.
