Yes, COVID-19 remains dangerous as of December 2025, though its overall public health risk has declined significantly compared to the early pandemic years due to widespread immunity from vaccinations and prior infections.

Current Global Risk Assessment

The World Health Organization (WHO) assessed the global public health risk from COVID-19 as moderate in mid-2025, down from high previously. This reflects declining deaths and hospitalizations since peaks in 2022, similar viral virulence across circulating variants, and improved clinical management.

Severity and Circulation

Current SARS-CoV-2 variants (primarily Omicron sublineages like XFG and others under monitoring) are generally more transmissible but not more severe than earlier Omicron strains. No variants of concern are currently designated by WHO or ECDC, and evidence shows no increased severity leading to higher rates of severe illness or death compared to recent years.

Hospitalizations and Deaths

Hospitalizations and deaths continue but at much lower levels. In the U.S., weekly COVID-associated hospitalizations are in the low thousands (e.g., forecasts around 2,100–6,200 for early December 2025), with rates highest in older adults (≥75 years) and infants. Mortality data indicate ongoing but reduced impact, with deaths occurring mainly in vulnerable groups.

Ongoing Risks

The virus poses significant risks to certain groups:

• Older adults
• Those with underlying conditions (e.g., immunocompromised, chronic kidney disease)
• Unvaccinated individuals

Reinfections increase the cumulative risk.

Long COVID

A major ongoing concern is Long COVID (post-COVID conditions), affecting an estimated 6–26% of infected adults (lower in children) with persistent symptoms like fatigue, cognitive issues, and organ damage. Risks rise with multiple infections, severity of initial illness, and certain pre-existing conditions. Vaccination reduces but does not eliminate this risk.

Public Health Perspective

Experts describe COVID-19 in 2025 as a constant but manageable threat, similar to other endemic respiratory viruses like influenza. It still causes waves of infection, periodic surges in cases/hospitalizations, and long-term health impacts, but widespread immunity and treatments (e.g., antivirals, vaccines) have made severe outcomes less common for most people.

To minimize danger: Stay up to date on vaccinations (which remain effective against severe disease), and high-risk individuals should consider additional precautions like masking in crowded indoor settings during surges.