While many think that this virus will mitigate over the summer, the consensus is that no one is sure if that is the case. We apparently have no immunity, and there will likely be a vaccine in about 18 months, although since this is a mutant virus with multiple strains, it is likely that any antiviral approach will not work with the strain that is spreading when it is finally available.
The new coronavirus could be permanently present in the world population . This is one of the possibilities we face in the face of the global COVID19 pandemic: that the outbreak will never be eradicated .
The predictions of some experts that the virus will circulate around our planet for a long time is due to the difficulty of stopping contagious respiratory diseases . Some experts have claimed that the virus will become endemic, permanently spreading in the human population like some viruses that cause colds and flu.
However, the concern with the new coronavirus is that no one possessed immunity, so the initial exposure is more likely to cause more serious illness for some patients. The most vulnerable include older people , those whose immune systems are weakened, and those who are already dealing with other health conditions.
There are other endemic coronaviruses
But the fact that the new coronavirus becomes chronic does not have to be a negative thing. Other endemic coronaviruses already exist. All cause common colds, although each can cause pneumonia and death in rare cases. They are these: OC43, 229E, HKU1, and NL63 (they are mild coronaviruses, hence they only have these simple designations).
” As the trajectory of the outbreak continues, many people at some point, whether this year or next, will be exposed to this virus, ” explained Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “And there is a great possibility that many will get sick.”
But no excess of serious cases is expected, as data from China, where the outbreak began and where thousands of infections have been examined, showed that about 80% of the cases were mild and only a small percentage were critical.
Prudence
“ I think it’s really important when dealing with this outbreak that we fully understand the limitations of the studies and their findings, and that we also base any intervention or policy on norms, not extremes. As it stands, there is little evidence to suggest that a 14-day quarantine or self-isolation period is not appropriate. Furthermore, there is little to no evidence that people can routinely transmit viruses during the asymptomatic period, “explains Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology at the University of Nottingham.
Remember that if you think you have been exposed to the virus , stay home and call the emergency number 112, especially if you get sick, particularly if you are in a high-risk group. Everyone needs to listen to health authorities and protect themselves, their families and their communities. Reducing the spread of the disease will also reduce the burden on the healthcare system.
