No back to ‘normal’ in near future, even with a vaccine

[frenchand]

Reading this guardian article this morning - www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/07/could-a-covid-vaccine-bring-back-normality?

Looks like we’ll have to get used to masks, testing etc for quite a while (a number of years) to come... I haven’t been thinking this way I realise, I’ve been in some way expecting normality to resume next spring. I need to adjust my expectations it seems

I can cope with masks and testing, as long as I can see my family easily and take my toddler to activities and playgroups. I don't ask for much!

Isn't this just a rehash of the "It's not a silver bullet" thing? I can't see anything in that article that we didn't already know. And in fact, it highlights several ways in which we can get closer to normal even without a fully effective vaccine.

I dont mind wearing a mask I just want to be able to hug my friends.

I think we all know we won’t be back to completely normal by spring. But if we have a vaccine and better treatment hopefully we can be closer to normal. Although I don’t mind keeping masks and distancing in public for a bit longer, if anyone thinks I’m not seeing my friends and family properly they have another thing coming!

@jomaIone

I can cope with masks and testing, as long as I can see my family easily and take my toddler to activities and playgroups. I don't ask for much!

I agree. If I can visit my family I'm happy. I dont care about wearing masks to the shops and self isolating if I have symptoms.

Interesting article. I'm pretty furious though that our rates of isolation following a positive test are as low as 20%.
I totally get that some people will take risks out of economic necessity but once you have a positive test who in their right mind would continue to circulate in society?! And up to 80%? That's just mind blowing amounts of selfishness

The Guardian love being gloomy about anything covid related.
The reality is that this is not economically sustainable.

@Racoonworld

I think we all know we won’t be back to completely normal by spring. But if we have a vaccine and better treatment hopefully we can be closer to normal. Although I don’t mind keeping masks and distancing in public for a bit longer, if anyone thinks I’m not seeing my friends and family properly they have another thing coming!

I don’t know, I think maybe rationally I knew that but emotionally I think the spring as a big turning point has been keeping me going...

Hopefully it will still feel like a big change when the vaccine comes even if it doesn’t mean an end to masks, distancing etc

Oh I was expecting that article to be all doomy but it’s not at all. It’s a good summary of where we are now and how the new and existing measures (eg mass testing) might interact.
We know it’s not going to be boom, everyone’s vaccinated, all back to normal by Easter. Next year is going to be a lot better than this one though.

The 1890 comparison it makes though is interesting - it was looked at in 2005 and suggested it was a coronavirus. Further research done now suggests the same - one that we are now happily living with.

This one did the following

The most reported effects of the pandemic took place October 1889 – December 1890, with recurrences in March – June 1891, November 1891 – June 1892, winter 1893–1894 and early 1895.

So lasted pretty much 5 years. If that one disappeared within 5 years with no vaccine this one should take less time.

@Quartz2208 thanks, that’s really interesting.