In a shocking revelation, it has been estimated that over 100 million Americans, roughly one-third of the population, will contract COVID-19 during the current wave of infections. With the dismantling of COVID-19 testing and data reporting systems, many deaths are likely to go unrecorded, adding to the already devastating toll.

According to The Economist's latest assessment, the global death toll stood at a staggering 27.4 million, with nearly 5,000 people losing their lives daily. However, these numbers fail to capture the complete picture due to the dismantlement of reporting systems.

The consequences of this ongoing wave are not limited to fatalities alone. Long COVID, a condition known for its lingering and debilitating effects, continues to inflict mass suffering. Recent research published in Nature Portfolio indicates that COVID-19 infection can cause brain damage similar to aging 20 years. This leads to mental deficits such as depression, reduced ability to handle intense emotions, lowered attention span, and impaired memory retention.

Moreover, experts reveal that the virus can attack multiple vital organs, including the heart, immune system, and digestion. COVID-19's impact on the body can persist for years after the initial infection, affecting various bodily functions. While vaccination provides some level of protection against Long COVID, the long-term consequences of the virus will be felt for generations.

The current surge in infections and hospitalizations comes just eight months after the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Biden administration declared an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) without scientific justification. This declaration effectively led to the cessation of all official responses to the pandemic, allowing the virus to spread unchecked.

Simultaneously, a media blackout on any mention of the coronavirus accompanied this termination of official reporting. References to illnesses were obscured as "respiratory illness," suppressing the facts about the dangers posed by the disease.

As a result, the severity of the current wave has been downplayed in mainstream media articles, largely ignoring the deepening crisis in hospitals. However, the contradiction between the reality of mass infection and the pressure to dismiss the pandemic's dangers is stark. Despite knowing someone who has been affected by COVID-19, individuals continue to disregard basic precautions, such as wearing masks, putting themselves at risk.

Amidst this global assault on public health, the WSWS International Editorial Board warns of a systematic cover-up by governments, corporations, media outlets, and trade unions. This cover-up has resulted in unending lies, gaslighting, and propaganda while millions fall ill and thousands die daily.

The consensus emerges that capitalist governments have shown an unwillingness and inability to effectively combat the disease. Instead, their primary focus has been on ensuring corporate profits, regardless of the human cost.

To find a solution, experts argue for a comprehensive global campaign to eliminate and eradicate the virus. This includes implementing mask mandates, mass testing, contact tracing, upgrading ventilation systems, and utilizing Far-UVC technology to halt the spread.

Funding for this global public health program should be sourced from expropriating resources from banks and financial institutions, which have played a significant role in the pandemic's devastating consequences.

However, the struggle against the coronavirus is not merely medical or scientific; it is fundamentally political and social. It requires the education and mobilization of the international working class to halt both the spread of the disease and the exploitative social order that perpetuates mass death. This call is seen as an invitation to join the fight for socialism and establish a world free from the grip of capitalism.

As the pandemic enters its fifth year, it becomes imperative to learn from this global crisis and take decisive action to safeguard public health and human lives.