WHO expect pandemic to be over in 2 years

[mummabear1967]

www.itv.com/news/2020-08-21/world-health-organization-chief-hopes-coronavirus-pandemic-will-be-over-in-two-years

Even if this pandemic does run into 2022, we won’t be stuck with restrictions until then, right? We will be back to normality to some extent? Not sure I could deal with another two years of this crap.

Well, which wouid you rather do?

Social distancing or uncontrolled virus?

@RoseAndRose

Well, which wouid you rather do?

Social distancing or uncontrolled virus?

SD obviously, that doesn’t mean I have to like it though!

uncontrolled virus - and I've said that all along

Why?

The uncontrolled shutting down of the country over the few months when everyone is ill together (and the terrible toll on the high death rate occupations such as HCPs) wouid wreck the economy more comprehensively, cause more non-Covid deaths (as health service overwhelmed) plus the sheer misery of mass bereavement.

Utterly horrible prospect, wouid take far longer to recover and on top of worst outcome n quantifiable levels, it's just utterly heartless

They seem to be saying 2 years on the basis that was how long it took the spanish flu to die out. With a viable vaccine I would expect the timescale for normality to return to be much shorter assuming all countries have access to the vaccine.

I saw that quote from WHO, I thought two years seemed alright, better than my miserable predictions!

I expect that the 2 years is a world wide figure and includes developing countries which may be unable to roll out a vaccination scheme quickly.

I think this is quite good going! We have already done 6 months! I will always have an element of social distancing and never be kissing, shaking hands etc again. Good! Fingers crossed it will reduce general bugs in the population not to mention the next new virus that crops up when some eats a deep fried monkey brain or whatever! Social distancing doesn’t have to mean the end of fun, just the end of getting all up in each other’s grill which may not be such a bad thing!

Also expect it was in relation to whole world and poorer nations who may well find it nigh impossible to roll out a vaccination scheme without assistance

2 years seems a remarkably manageable amount of time, somehow. I am always surprised that we've already done 6 months, as I'd probably guess at about 10 weeks if I had to take a stab without knowing or looking at a calendar, so time is moving weirdly quickly.

Hopefully some of you are right, and that 2 years will become even shorter as things move forward.

I think my inner negative voice was assuming this may never end, so 2 years sounds great!

@RoseAndRose

Well, which wouid you rather do?

Social distancing or uncontrolled virus?

Uncontrolled virus. I cannot and will not accept social distancing for much longer, it has destroyed my life and taken away everything that brings me pleasure. I'm not living like this for two years.

When this pandemic does end, what happens to the virus? Is it likely just to become a normal seasonal illness just like the cold and flu? So in years to come, if you have coronavirus, it won’t be something you need to self isolate for? Because we don’t self isolate as such for the common cold

@kittensarecute it’s horrible and I wish I could just go to sleep tonight and wake up in the morning for all this to be gone and it’s such a pain but SD is for the best. It’s not practical at all and it’s impossible at times but it’s for the best for now to try and stop the spread of this bloody virus

As someone that had to shield and have seen how others treat lockdown, I don't think social distancing or guidelines were ever taken seriously by all.

I can only hope for the best.

@OhTheTrees

2 years seems a remarkably manageable amount of time, somehow. I am always surprised that we've already done 6 months, as I'd probably guess at about 10 weeks if I had to take a stab without knowing or looking at a calendar, so time is moving weirdly quickly.

Hopefully some of you are right, and that 2 years will become even shorter as things move forward.

I think my inner negative voice was assuming this may never end, so 2 years sounds great!

And here you have an example of the selfishness that means it will be 2 years at least.

2 years is do-able. The last six months has flown by tbh.

Presumably we'll have plenty of data and research this time next year. So next winter will be easier. now I've said that I've jinxed it and the damn thing will mutate.

I’m not sure I understand how OhTheTrees is being selfish, @KilljoysDutch? It sounds like she is trying to be encouraging - to say we can cope, if the current measures do have to carry on until 2022.

Generations before us have had to endure far worse hardships than social distancing. The self entitlement of some is incredible, get a fucking grip.

Great post meditrina - it should be blindingly obvious why letting the virus run rampant would be disastrous.

@killjoysdutch how has social distancing ruined your life? That not a rude comment, I'm actually interested

They said under 2 years, and bear in mind that’s the pandemic overall, not just how it affects us. I suspect we will be largely back to normal here a fair time before the pandemic is declared officially over.

We’re getting there slowly but surely

@ACautionaryTale

uncontrolled virus - and I've said that all along

If it was possible to do that, we’d have done it. It isn’t.

What on Earth is selfish about what @OhTheTrees said? Bizarre comment.

@KilljoysDutch. What ARE you on about?!

What on earth was selfish about OhTheTreez post??

I'm guessing he/she quoted the wrong post

@mummabear1967

When this pandemic does end, what happens to the virus? Is it likely just to become a normal seasonal illness just like the cold and flu? So in years to come, if you have coronavirus, it won’t be something you need to self isolate for? Because we don’t self isolate as such for the common cold

The common cold is a much milder illness and doesn’t risk causing the overwhelming of healthcare systems like CV though.

I’m no scientist but from what I can gather I think it’s likely to become endemic like flu, vaccines and the fact it won’t be a novel virus like it is now will help it be less troublesome to society overall. I reckon however it will still pluck off pensioners like flu does in winter, so even if I dodge it now it may well see me off in 35 years or so