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The CEO of American pharmaceutical company Moderna, which manufactures a coronavirus vaccine, gave an opinion that the pandemic is coming to an end.
In the United States and Europe, where the spread of Omicron mutations peaked, movements to ease quarantine guidelines are continuing.
Reporter Kim Jung-woo on the sidewalk.
[ Reporter
] Moderna CEO Stefan Bansel said, "It is a reasonable scenario that the COVID-19 pandemic has reached its final stage."
"There is a 20% chance that the next mutation will be more fatal than Omicron," Bansel said.
However, Bancel emphasized that while omicrons are not very lethal, there are still many people dying from omicrons every day.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said last week that the number of new cases worldwide fell by 19% compared to the previous week.
The U.S. is expected to officially ease the mask compulsory guidelines as early as next week.
As the spread of the virus has rapidly declined in recent weeks, most states, including New York, have already lifted the mandatory mask requirement, but the federal government
will issue new guidelines.
Germany is considering increasing the number of indoor private gatherings to 20 if vaccinated.
[Olaf Scholz/Germany Prime Minister: By the beginning of spring, we will be able to ease much of the current COVID-19 restrictions.]
France has made it possible to eat in sports arenas and movie theaters, and indoors where vaccine passes are tested. The obligation to wear a mask in public places will disappear.
The Swiss and Austrian governments have also announced that they are lifting most of the restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.