COVID cannot be viewed as a seasonal disease and it is still in the pandemic phase, a Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Russia Melita Vujnovic told TASS in an interview.

"People may consider it has become a minor disease at present. This is not so. We cannot name COVID as a seasonal disease; it is still at the pandemic phase but not in the acute one when there was absolutely no immunity. The first year was the most severe, the second - more or less but also challenging, although we were better coping with that disease. So, no, we cannot speak about the seasonal disease like about flu," Vujnovic said.

The coronavirus pandemic has not yet ended, the WHO Representative said. "Yes, we are not at the acute ascending phase of the pandemic but the virus still causes many cases, many people are ill worldwide, and the wave continues," she added.