A new Harvard study has shown that some forms of social distancing may be needed until at least 2022 to stop the spread of Coronavirus and to prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed.
The study on COVID-19 warned that sporadic periods of social distancing could be needed for another two years to prevent new surges in infections. As of today novel Coronavirus has infected over 2 million and killed over 280000 people across the globe.
According to the study published on Tuesday in the Science journal, the researchers warn that lifting social distancing measures all at once could just delay the peak and make a second surge in infections more severe, Daily Mail reports.
The study warns that a single period of social distancing measures – like the ones currently in place – will not be sufficient.
Current social distancing measures in the United States are due to expire on April 30 but health experts are urging for continued social distancing measures to defeat the Coronavirus.
The study said a number of factors will play a role in the trajectory of the Coronavirus over the next few years, including if it is seasonal and the extent of immunity.
Health experts think it is unlikely that COVID-19 will follow its closest cousin, Sars-CoV-1 – that ravaged China between 2002 and 2003 – and be eradicated by intensive public health measures after causing a brief pandemic.
Instead, experts say the transmission could resemble that of pandemic influenza by circulating seasonally.
