PhD Immunologist: "I'd be surprised if we're still wearing masks in two or three years"
He has a PhD in Biological Sciences, concentration in Immunology, Washington University in Saint Louis May 2010 St. Louis, MO and a BS, Microbiology, minor in Business Administration Clemson University.
In a recent interview with PBS, Dr. Menachery said:
"I'd be surprised if we're still wearing masks and 6-feet distancing in two or three years. I think the most likely outcome is that we'll eventually get to herd immunity. The best way to get to herd immunity is through a vaccine and some certain populations who have already been exposed or will be exposed."
And then the expectation I have is that this virus will actually become the next common cold coronavirus. What we don't know with these common cold coronaviruses is if they went through a similar transition period.
So, say something like OC43, which is a common cold coronavirus that was originally from cows. It's been historically reported that there was an outbreak associated with the transition of this virus from cows to humans that was very severe disease, and then after a few years, the virus became just the common cold. So in three to five years it may be that you're still getting COVID-19 in certain populations of people or every few years, but the expectation is hopefully that it'll just be a common cold and it's something that we can just each deal with and it won't lead to hospitalization and the shutting down of society.
His website is here, his twitter is here.
Link: COVID-19 May Never Go Away — With Or Without A Vaccine PBS, 8/9/20
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