- New Coronavirus Pandemic in 2026?2¢2%
Strong market-implied odds favoring no new coronavirus pandemic in 2026 reflect ongoing global respiratory virus surveillance showing stable, low SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates without evidence of a novel strain capable of triggering a WHO-declared pandemic. Recent CDC and WHO updates indicate COVID-19 activity remains regionally elevated in places but declining nationally in the United States, with influenza and RSV levels following typical seasonal patterns and no surge meeting pandemic thresholds. Cumulative case data through mid-2026 and continued monitoring via systems like COVID-NET underscore that current circulation stems from established variants rather than a new emergence. Realistic challenges include the potential for a highly immune-evasive or virulent variant to arise and spread rapidly before year-end, though historical patterns and current low transmissibility signals make such an outcome unlikely within the remaining timeframe.
Rules
This market will resolve to "Yes" if the World Health Organization (WHO) declares a new COVID pandemic other than COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) between market creation and December 31, 2026, 11:59 PM ET. Otherwise, this market will resolve to "No". The resolution source will be official announcements from the World Health Organization.