Hundreds of companies are racing on producing a COVID-19 vaccine and governments hope to have the jabs available as soon as the end of 2020.
However, even with a successful vaccine available in the market, experts say it would take at least two years to completely contain the coronavirus pandemic while people will still be required to wear face masks throughout the time.
People sit outside a bar in Manchester city centre, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Manchester, Britain, August 10, 2020.
According to a prominent Spanish virologist, Dr. Margarita del Val who heads the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) - Salud Global/Global Health, said that people will need to continue wearing face masks in some countries for a couple of years, at least.
"It's going to be a marathon"
The virologist told MarketWatch said lifestyle changes and health measures will still be necessary required to ensure the virus are kept under control. "We have to get used to wearing a mask and taking a couple of measures for a couple of years and integrate them into our daily lives," said Dr. del Val.
A man wearing a protective face mask walks past posters outside of the currently closed New Theatre Oxford, amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Oxford, Britain, September 17, 2020.
The doctor also said that we may get over this after some years, but it will not be a short trail. "It's going to be a marathon," Dr. del Val noted adding that people would need to wear face masks and continue practicing social distancing once they leave their house.
UK's Second Wave
The U.K. will be announcing new set of coronavirus restrictions in fear of a second wave of coronavirus in winter.
People wearing protective face masks stand in front of the Pantheon as local authorities in the Italian capital Rome ordered face coverings to be worn at all times outdoors, in an effort to counter the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, October 8, 2020.
Starting Monday, October 12, British authorities will start to hold stricter restrictions as ministers are reportedly discussing plans for a new "traffic light" system of local lockdown rules in the U.K. As winter approaches, thousands of vulnerable people who live in coronavirus hotspots may be asked to shield themselves as infections remain increasing.
Although this plan is not yet finalized, it may actually be delayed because isolation may affect the mental health of those affected individuals.
In the U.K., about 2.2 million people are deemed "clinically extremely vulnerable" and they have already been asked to isolate during the height of the health crisis, then the scheme was later "paused" in July.
After recording 17,540 of confirmed coronavirus cases on October 8, skills minister Gillian Keegan said on BBC Question Time that the situation is getting out of control. "This is serious - it is getting out of control, and we have to do something to bring it back under control," Keegan noted adding that the government need to take swift actions to further control the spread of the virus.
Professor John Edmunds said that COVID-19 leads the U.K. in a waiting game before it sees the full impact of the virus to the National Health Services.
Edmunds who is a member of the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies also said that in England, "we are not that far away from the health service being stretched." He added that even if we are able to halt the epidemic now, people who get infected would still wait for another week or two before going to hospitals.
Meanwhile, US top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that public health measures are still necessary, even after giving vaccines to 80% of the population.
Read also: UK Will Begin Injecting COVID-19 Vaccines by November, Leaked Documents Say
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Written by CJ Robles
