Thoughts

[OldOrMaybeNotThatOld]

So I was on another thread and there were a couple comments that weirdly gave me some comfort. Please add your opinion.

1. The virus mutates to a less aggressive but more easily transmissible form of its original state because that is what viruses do. Someone mentioned basically that this is how a pandemic ends... the virus moves faster and something about how a virus would have no interest in killing its host for its own survival and therefore mutates to a lesser aggressive version.
2. Faster spreading = greater herd immunity.

What you all think?

Pretty sure the virus doesn't kill the host anyway - it's our immune response to it.

Not really worth speculating until studies return reports in a couple of weeks. We just don't know.

Can't see herd immunity though it it mutates so much

Yes, I think there may be some truth in this. But we need to wait until there is more data (eg percentage hospital admissions, percentage deaths) before we can be sure.

I have no idea tbh but it would be lovely to think this more infectious strain means it’s on its way out
The scientists and politicians seem very worried about it though not sure they would be if that was the case?

I don't think herd immunity other than via a vaccine is going to be a way out of this for us, sorry.

It would be nice if the virus became less lethal though. Sadly, we can't bank on that.

This virus is contagious before symptoms start. There’s no particular advantage to a mutation that makes it less deadly because by the time it kills people it’s done all it’s spreading. It doesn’t mean that that sort of mutation couldn’t happen, but it wouldn’t have any advantage over existing strains.

In terms of point 2. We haven’t ever reached herd immunity for any virus just by letting it spread and there are viruses that spread much more than this one.

Sorry. It’s a nice thought but sadly neither are true for this virus.

Why would herd immunity not work? Surely a vaccine and herd immunity are the same thing?
I’m no scientist so excuse my ignorance

You get herd immunity through vaccines, you don’t generally tend to get it through viral spread. Technically you could in a closed community, but in this case the herd immunity will be coming from rolling out the vaccines.

As a new virus we also don’t yet have any conclusive information as to how much previous infection protects you from another. We know much more than we did earlier in the year but there’s still lots of stuff we’re gathering evidence on.