When can we realistically expect things to get better?

DETROIT – Due to the new year, Michigan did not publish state numbers on COVID on Thursday or Friday.

An update is expected on Saturday that includes data from the last few days.

As the launch of the vaccine continues, many people are excited about the fact that 2020 is already in the past. While that doesn’t mean the coronavirus is gone by midnight, experts ponder when it’s realistic to expect things to return to normal.

Current estimates believe it is likely to approach the end of 2021. Although there are vaccines, the number of people vaccinated and how quickly this timeline will affect them.

Dr. Matthew Sims is the director of infectious disease research at Beaumont Royal Oak. He said the use of masks, social distancing and other precautions will remain in place until at least 70% of the population is vaccinated.

“We’ll need it until we get to 70%,” Sims said. “And that’s what will get us to that 70%.”

He’s not the only one who thinks that. The 4-person premises itself, Dr. Frank McGeorge, an emergency physician at Henry Ford, said the same.

“There is already evidence that there will be vaccination hesitation, especially in minority communities. There are also some things we don’t know about vaccines that will play a role: the great effectiveness of transmission, not just symptomatic disease, is a big difference, “said McGeorge. “Also how long does immunity last? These things will affect the time it takes to achieve broad public immunity. “

At the national level they also have the same thoughts. Dr. Anthony Fauci said masks, social distancing and other precautions should remain in place until most people get vaccinated.

Restrictions may be eased over the summer, but things are not expected to return to normal until near the end of the year.