Several African countries have entered the endemic phase of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Last year, Jambo began studying the number of COVID-19 cases in Malawi since the outbreak began. The results showed that the number of Malawians infected with the virus was much higher and more widespread than Jambo had predicted. Many people were infected before the Omicron variant emerged.

Before the Omicron wave hit, Malawi had not been hit particularly hard by COVID-19. “At that time, it seemed like less than 10% of the population had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2,” Jambo said. “Hospitalizations were also surprisingly low.”

This prompted Jambo and his team to look for a new source of information. They turned their attention to a blood bank that had been collecting for months. They found that at the beginning of the third wave of COVID-19 last summer, when Malawi was overwhelmed by the Delta variant, 80% of the population was infected.

He predicts that the vast majority of these cases will be asymptomatic, meaning many people who have had mild illness will not seek testing or go to the hospital. Meanwhile, less than 5% of Malawians have been fully vaccinated, so it is likely that those who have had the infection have antibodies that prevent severe illness from earlier variants. Jambo also explained that the average age of Malawians is only about 18, an age at which they are at lower risk of severe illness and death.

But more importantly, Mr. Jambo sees this as meaning that Malawi is moving into a new phase and the pandemic may be coming to an end. That is, the stage where COVID-19 becomes endemic, similar to seasonal diseases, like colds or flu.

Scientists also believe that Malawi is just one of several African countries to have reached this milestone in the fight against the pandemic. Similar studies have been conducted in Kenya, Madagascar and South Africa. In fact, many regions in Africa have had similar results, Mr. Jambo said.

Now, as the Omicron wave peaks across Africa, countries are seeing similar trends: cases are rising sharply, while severe cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are low.

South Africa, however, has not been so lucky. Although the country has also pushed for vaccinations, its population is much older than Malawi’s, which is why South African hospitals were overwhelmed during the Delta wave last summer.

Shabir Madhi, a researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, said South Africa was three-quarters of the way through the pandemic. After the Omicron wave, perhaps 80% of South Africans had developed immunity against severe illness and death. Mahdi said that to better control the pandemic, South Africa needed to ensure that at least 90% of people over 50 were fully vaccinated.

He suggested that when the next variant emerges, it’s important not to panic about simply increasing cases. He believes a surge in cases is inevitable. Instead of preventing it, officials should focus more on its potential to cause severe illness and death.