I see endemic used to mean different things.

I think most people just mean that it is now established and won't go away. That it will be a constant presence in our lives.

I believe epidemiologists also require that infection rates remain roughly constant and don't exhibit wild swings in infection numbers.

I guess we're still in an epidemic.

Epidemiologically, endemic is that the rates of disease are within expectation - for example, there's a statistical threshold for flu every year. There can still be swings - seasonal diseases for example.

There is no sane universe where COVID-19 is endemic from an epidemiological standpoint.

It also doesn't imply that we should stop doing things.

Thanks for the clarification.

I'd add that endemic also doesn't mean mild.