What the difference is between an epidemic and a pandemic

POLOKWANE – An epidemic is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of time.

COVID-19 began as an epidemic before making its way around the world in a matter of months and becoming a pandemic. Epidemics do not always become pandemics, and it’s not always a fast or clear transition.

A pandemic is the global outbreak of a disease. The World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a pandemic on 12 March. Pandemic is associated with concerns over its geographic spread, and according to the World Health Organisation, a pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations.