It's a challenge to have intelligent discussions when the definition of words isn't agreed upon.
From Google:
"
What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
An outbreak is called an epidemic when there is a sudden increase in cases. As COVID-19 began spreading in Wuhan, China, it became an epidemic. Because the disease then spread across several countries and affected a large number of people, it was classified as a pandemicWhat is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
An outbreak is called an epidemic when there is a sudden increase in cases. As COVID-19 began spreading in Wuhan, China, it became an epidemic. Because the disease then spread across several countries and affected a large number of people, it was classified as a pandemic"