CURRENT SITUATION AND MODERN PERSPECTIVES ON COVID-19: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Relevance: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to pose a significant global healthcare burden, evolving from an acute pandemic crisis into a stable, long-term public health challenge. Frequent viral mutations and the emergence of novel subvariants sustain viral transmission and allow for continuous immune escape. Aim: This narrative review aims to synthesize the current epidemiological situation, viral evolutionary pathways, modern clinical presentations, and updated prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for COVID-19. Main Content: Recent surveillance reports confirm that while mass hospitalizations have stabilized, specific high-risk populations face ongoing risks of severe outcomes. The viral landscape is currently shaped by distinct subvariants, such as the XFG and LP.8.1 lineages, which demonstrate enhanced transmissibility over older strains. Concurrently, Post-COVID-19 Condition (Long COVID) has established itself as a highly prevalent, multi-system chronic disease requiring structured, interdisciplinary clinical pathways. Management paradigms have shifted toward precision outpatient antiviral delivery using nirmatrelvir-ritonavir or remdesivir, alongside updated monovalent vaccines formulated to match circulating lineages. Conclusion: Ultimately, COVID-19 must no longer be approached as an isolated outbreak, but as a permanent, endemic respiratory infection. Managing this disease requires resilient epidemiological networks, agile vaccine adaptation frameworks, and sustained investments in therapeutic equity to prevent localized healthcare system disruption.