Three years into World War II and after the first big victory for the allies, Winston Churchill famously said, “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” The same might be said for the COVID-19 pandemic at this moment in time.
March 11, 2021 marked one year since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus crisis a pandemic. The New York Times recently reported, “Nearly 30 percent of Americans have now had the virus. About 18 percent have received at least one vaccine shot. There is some overlap between these two groups, which means that about 40 percent of Americans now have some protection from Covid.
However, the article goes on to point out that achieving herd immunity is not like a light switch, but more like a dimmer. The pandemic is still a long way from over. And the situation may worsen again, because of a combination of new virus variants and people abandoning safety protocols.
CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky commemorated the one year anniversary of the pandemic stating that while the organization accumulates more evidence to support the safe return to everyday activities, everyone should continue taking precautions in public and when around people who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease.
Whether you are already vaccinated or not, wear a well-fitted mask, practice physical distancing, wash your hands often, and avoid travel. These measures prevent the spread of this virus and help protect each other until we truly come to the end of this pandemic.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2021/03/11/975663437/march-11-2020-the-day-everything-changed
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0311-pandemic-anniversary.html
