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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHere's How Long We'll Be Struggling With COVID-19, Says Harvard Doctor
The strange and surreal lifestyle we now find ourselves living in as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is a challenge. According to Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, the sacrifices and adjustments we are making to abate the spread of COVID-19 will likely need to continue for another year.
Appearing on CNN this weekend, Jha said of the coronavirus pandemic, "Not only is it not fading out this will be with us for at least another 12 months, and that's the most optimistic scenario for having a vaccine." While there have been encouraging trial tests for both therapeutic treatments and vaccines, the broad application of a proven medicine is still roughly a year away according to experts.
Since the coronavirus outbreak was officially named a pandemic in March, different parts of the nation have had different methods to deal with the contagion. Every state is now at least in some phase of reopening since the White House directed shelter at home guidelines, though a half dozen or so states that opened up early in the process are seeing sharp spikes in cases, causing national debate over a second wave, or perhaps, a first wave that has not yet come to an end.
Donald Trump explained during a political rally Saturday night that the increased number of coronavirus cases are a direct result of the increased number of tests. This received pushback, however, by Dr. Tom Inglesby, the director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who explained on Fox News Sunday that the spikes in confirmed cases in many states in the South and West are not simply a result of increased testing. Inglesby noted that while overall testing is increasing, so too is the percentage of tests coming back as positive, particularly in states like Arizona, Texas, North and South Carolina, and Florida, he said, "That's a real rise."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/heres-how-long-well-be-struggling-with-covid-19-says-harvard-doctor/ar-BB15Pflm?li=BBnb7Kz
soothsayer
(38,601 posts)And knock it on its behind.
But nope.
Pacifist Patriot
(24,647 posts)Cuomo has his pros and cons like every politician/leader, but he sure stepped up in a pandemic. Meanwhile my state has no leadership whatsoever. Just craven politicians who value money over people.
soothsayer
(38,601 posts)But boy he seems to have really helped the people of ny pull off the impossible.
And hes keeping his eye on the ball.
I hope people also take him up on police reform. Hes handed them quite an opportunity.
appalachiablue
(41,053 posts)just got news that 2 seniors tested negative recently.
What's gone on politically in the Sunshine State in the last 20 years is disappointing and more.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)the population at large, as we and 24 other nations did with SARS-1 early in this century. NY's still in this to the end, even if handling it better than many other states.
soothsayer
(38,601 posts)They got it under control. Its not too late to start in earnest everywhere else.
Skraxx
(2,965 posts)soothsayer
(38,601 posts)ProfessorGAC
(64,422 posts)Test 100,000. 5% positivity, so 5,000 cases.
Test 200,000. Same rate, so 10,000 cases. But, it's not twice as bad. No context without knowing that tests doubled.
Test 200,000. 7% positivity, 14,000 cases. Twice as many tests, but 2.8 times the cases.
That's why the positivity rate is a key statistic. It's a dimensionless number. It's already in context.
Bleacher Creature
(11,235 posts)We need something to help us hobble along until there's a vaccine.
Initech
(99,914 posts)The thing is we just don't know - it could be a year, three years, the next decade, forever. Some are just guessing whatever they think is going to happen. Even the worst pandemic in history only lasted 18 months. I can't see this one lasting much longer than that.
soothsayer
(38,601 posts)Doom and gloom are coming.
DrToast
(6,414 posts)That is most definitely not the most optimistic scenario. There are at least two vaccines that may be ready by the end of the year.