COVID lingers into year seven with a stubborn global toll

As COVID-19 enters its seventh year, the pandemic persists with high transmission and ongoing waves—the US reports a 12th major wave and over 1.2 million official deaths, while global excess mortality runs into tens of millions (central estimates around 27 million); about 1 million infections per day in recent times and Long COVID affecting millions, underscoring that the toll endures even as public attention has shifted.