We can never "get rid" of the virus. It's here to stay. What we can do is to try and not let it spread (wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands) and to find a vaccine for it. Teh vaccine may be here, and by summer of 2021, everyone in the world should be able to be vaccinated 1 (although any long term "side effects" of the vaccine are still unknown). However, if not enough people take the vaccine, it won't be as effective.
Based on the Australian experience it takes total lockdown.
1. Closure of international borders. All exceptions required to quarantine in a hotel, at their own expense, under guard, with daily testing of both guests and staff, and staff not permitted to have second jobs.
2. No social gatherings of any kind. Everyone stays home. All jobs on hold except for essential workers. People work from home where possible. Kids get their schooling online. No one goes out except for essential shopping or medical needs. One hour outdoor exercise per day permitted with social distancing. Where people are forced to be out, wear masks, maintain social distance, and ensure good hand hygiene.
3. Free Covid-19 testing for everyone with the slightest symptoms. Self-isolate for a fortnight until test results confirmed. Two weeks self-isolation for all people who have the disease until they've recovered. Essential workers deliver food and groceries to affected homes.
4. Immediate contact tracing for all contacts of people who test positive. Compulsory testing and two weeks isolation for all contacts and contacts of contacts.
5. Financial support for people who cannot work and, extra help for essential workers and their families.
6. Free and sufficient supplies of full cover PPE's for all essential workers.
This policy is fantastically expensive. It puts the country in debt for 20 years. However, experience shows that it halts and ends community transition within a few weeks - at most months if there is human error. The quicker the disease ends, the quicker the economy bounces back to thriving.
When the vaccines finally roll out, things will start to get easier. However, some people will refuse to be vaccinated, others will be too immunocompromised to handle it, and the best version is only 95% effective, so we will still have to live with social distancing and careful hygiene.
This post was edited by inky at December 7, 2020 10:53 AM MST
Shuhak 