The fat lady sings

[liv]

I'm curious what people think about the end of the pandemic. So, a poll, do feel free to argue with my options in comments, that's always the fun part of a poll.

Please answer for whatever you think is your relevant region, whether that's country, state, province etc. I don't think there's any doubt that the pandemic still exists in the world as a whole, I'm interested in a bit more local than that.

Poll #24498 Is it over?

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 103

View Respondents

Is the pandemic over yet?

View Answers

Yes
0 (0.0%)

No
103 (100.0%)

It never started here
0 (0.0%)

If the pandemic is over, when did it end?

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When restrictions were eased
0 (0.0%)

When the excess death rate dropped below average
0 (0.0%)

When the reported covid death rate dropped low enough
0 (0.0%)

When there were zero covid deaths
0 (0.0%)

When there were zero covid deaths for several weeks
0 (0.0%)

When the rate of new cases dropped low enough
0 (0.0%)

When there were zero new cases
0 (0.0%)

When there were zero new cases for several weeks
0 (0.0%)

When I went back to work in person
0 (0.0%)

When I met up with someone in person
0 (0.0%)

The pandemic never reached here
0 (0.0%)

Something else
3 (100.0%)

If the pandemic is still going on, when will it end?

View Answers

When restrictions are eased
1 (1.0%)

When the excess death rate is negative
4 (3.9%)

When the reported covid deaths drop low enough
10 (9.8%)

When there are zero covid deaths
6 (5.9%)

When there are zero covid deaths for several days
13 (12.7%)

When the rate of new cases drops low enough
23 (22.5%)

When there are zero new cases
8 (7.8%)

When there are zero new cases for several weeks
43 (42.2%)

When there is a change of government
2 (2.0%)

When there is an approved vaccine
23 (22.5%)

When I get vaccinated
9 (8.8%)

When the majority of the population is vaccinated
83 (81.4%)

When there is an approved, curative treatment
52 (51.0%)

When enough people have been exposed to achieve herd immunity (without a vaccine)
24 (23.5%)

Never, this is reality now
13 (12.7%)

The pandemic hasn't started here
0 (0.0%)

Something else
3 (2.9%)

Comments

[worlds_of_smoke]

I ended up splitting my vote between options that are "this would be a nice reality" and "this is what will happen, probably".

I'd like to be optimistic and say there's going to be an end to this, so I did. But I have to be a realist too. I think this is something that's likely to end up being like HIV, something that we live with, but can be managed. It will be a lot more difficult, I think, just because of the different nature of the virus. But it may be something that is never really "over".

I can dream, but I'm also someone who hedges her bets.

[rmc28]

Yeah, my expectation is that we eventually get a vaccine, but given what we know about coronaviruses evolving, it becomes an annual exercise to get a Covid jab as well as (alongside?) a flu jab.

[worlds_of_smoke]

Yeah, IDK. I don't think there's going to be "a" vaccine. Honestly, the idea of having to get a yearly COVID jab scares me because of the idiot anti-vaxxers, but I think that may be the best we can get. :/

[(Anonymous)]

Annual boosters won't be necessary if, as seems plausible (but of course we know nothing for sure, yet), the fatal immune system overreaction only happens on first encounter, and (assuming you survive that) subsequent infections are mild, as with existing common cold coronaviruses.

[flippac]

Yeah, my votes for "when's it over?" definitely "at least several of these hold" for that kind of reason.

[worlds_of_smoke]

yeah. One can dream, but in a situation like this, one really needs to be realistic.