SF Band dad wrote: ↑Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:30 pm
I disagree. The social isolation didn't prevent the spread of this virus, it just slowed it down so our hospitals would not be overwhelmed by the peak. We were successful, we flattened the curve, the peak has passed.
Covid-19 model - South Carolina
With no vaccine on the horizon, the only way we can create the "herd immunity" needed to protect the elderly and vulnerable is to have our young and healthy get out there,... catch it, defeat it and produce antibodies. Once there are an insufficient number of hosts the virus will fizzle out.
You are spot on with this analysis. The reason for the restrictions was to "flatten the curve" and some people are forgetting this. Science teaches us that a virus can only be eradicated by naturally attained immunity (either through a vaccine or herd immunity). Hiding indoors and away from the virus is not feasible long-term as it will eventually pop back up when people start to mingle again. Every virus, throughout history, has to run its course. The only pandemic of the last 100 years that had multiple waves was the Spanish Flu. The initial outbreak happened and we closed schools/businesses/etc. As soon as we opened back up (which happened simultaneously with a large percentage of World War 1 troops returning), the 2nd wave started. We then began to build herd immunity, but a 3rd (smaller) wave happened with the final group of our troops returned in the summer of 2019. Short of having a vaccine, Herd Immunity is the only answer. Viral infections typically takes 8-12 weeks for a major metro area to reach herd immunity status. Being that its summer, now is the best time to gain that Herd Immunity as its, on average, our "healthiest" time of the year as your normal "colds" and seasonal flus arent around so hospital usage is down.