Marla Ahlgrimm | How Long Will This Pandemic Last?

Marla AhlgrimmAccording to Marla Ahlgrimm, one of the most pressing questions on everyone’s mind is how long, exactly, the coronavirus pandemic will last. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to that question, but you can find insight into how things might play out below.

Q: Prior to 2020, when was the last global pandemic?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Back in 2009, the World Health Organization declared the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, a pandemic. It began in June and was officially declared over by August 2010. Unfortunately, the novel coronavirus is different from swine flu. Although we are hopeful that researchers and scientists will develop a vaccine by the end of 2020, there is an unfortunate lack of crystal balls that can accurately predict what tomorrow will bring.

Q: Summer will burn off the virus, right?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Maybe, but maybe not. There is speculation that Covid-19 may not be able to survive warm weather. Unfortunately, the more than 27,000 cases in Florida seem to dispel this notion. Seasonal changes don’t always have a significant effect on diseases. And, considering that this is a global pandemic, no matter how long it lasts, it will always be winter somewhere on the map.

Q: How long should I practice social distancing?

Marla AhlgrimmMarla Ahlgrimm: That’s another question with such a difficult answer. For the most part, restrictions are slated to be lifted as of May 1. In hotbeds of infection, such as California and New York, shelter in place orders and strict social distancing guidelines are likely to continue to be mandated until at least the end of May if not much longer.

Q: Does social distancing stop the virus?

Marla Ahlgrimm: That’s one question that we can answer. And the answer is no. Social distancing is not designed to stop the virus. Its purpose is to allow healthcare systems to prepare for an influx of sick patients. At this point, there is no way to stop the vast majority of the population from contracting coronavirus, it’s just a matter of when and if hospital beds will be available for the ones who get the sickest.

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