The first 100 million Covid-19 cases were recorded in more than a year, and the following 100 million were recorded in less than half that time. Third 100 million have arrived in less than five months, as significant parts of countries, rich and poor alike, remain unvaccinated and a crafty new version has proven able to infect even people who are vaccinated.

When it comes to the pandemic, case counts have been a critical barometer. They have been used by governments to implement mitigation measures as well as by individuals trying to detect the threat in their own neighborhoods. Despite the fact that the number of known instances has passed the 300 million mark, an increasing number of specialists suggest that it is time to cease focusing on the number of cases.

Research reveals that Covid vaccines still provide protection against the worst outcomes, even if the new Omicron form appears to cause severe disease in fewer people than prior versions of the virus did. Cases are rising faster than ever, although hospitalizations and deaths from Covid are increasing at a much slower rate than in previous years. The sheer number of suspected instances, on the other hand, worries some health care experts. Anthony Fauci, one of the world’s leading experts on infectious disease, said last week that it was time to cease counting cases. “As infections become less severe, it is much more relevant to focus on hospitalisations,” he said.

At least one Covid vaccine has been delivered to over 60 percent of the global population, however the vast majority of these injections have been given in wealthy countries, leaving vulnerable populations such as those in Africa and Asia. Almost 80 percent of EU people have been vaccinated, according to the European Commission.

In the United States, daily instances have increased fivefold in the last month, while hospitalizations have only doubled in the same time period.. According to the Our World in Data project at Oxford University, the number of cases in France has quadrupled, hospitalizations are up 70%, and deaths have more than doubled. Vaccines appear to have altered the sad cadence of the preceding two years, which saw a wave of infections followed by a corresponding spike in hospitalizations and fatalities.

There may be a greater disparity between official case counts and actual totals in the United States and Europe as at-home tests become more widely available. Robert West, a professor of health psychology at University College London, observed that case numbers “definitely mean less than they did” “If we had this number of infections then, we’d have had an astronomical number of deaths.” Even yet, the death toll is still staggering: approximately 830,000 in the United States, 620,000 in Brazil, and around 500,000 in India.

The actual number may never be known in many poor countries because of the vast gaps in health data. Many scientists believe that the virus will become a permanent part of our lives, like the flu, and that by the time the world reaches 400 million cases, that number will signify even less than it does today.