There’s no quick fix

As the covid-19 pandemic continues, millions of Americans are increasingly impatient to regain a more normal footing. Some “maverick scientists” with “an audience inside the White House,” as The Washington Post reported, argue for “allowing the coronavirus to spread freely at ‘natural’ rates among healthy young people while keeping most aspects of the economy up and running.”

Their aim is to achieve herd immunity: If enough people are immune, those without immunity can be protected. Usually this refers to immunity gained from vaccination; the goal of herd immunity has typically not been applied to a disease for which there is no vaccine.

There is a saying that for every complicated problem, a solution exists that is quick, simple, and wrong. That applies here.

If immunity among those 15 percent of Americans who have been infected and survive is strong and long-lasting, and if herd immunity kicks in at 60 percent infection of the population with a fatality rate of 0.5 percent, then at least another half-million Americans would have to die to achieve herd immunity.

A one-two punch is needed to knock out the virus:

1. Knock down its spread. Wear a mask, watch your distance, wash your hands.

2. Box the virus in through testing and action when tests are positive.

The sooner the virus is under control, the quicker and more complete the recovery will be. PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER PressReader.com +1 604 278 4604