Beware of Trying for a Social End to Pandemic

To the Editor:

It has been suggested that, because of the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, we should downgrade its status to the lesser epidemic which is expected to occur year after year. By definition, an epidemic happens when more cases of a disease than expected affect a given area or specific group of people. If the epidemic occurs worldwide, or over a very large area crossing borders, it is classified as a pandemic. Currently, over 200 countries are reporting massive numbers of active cases of COVID-19, so not continuing to call it a pandemic would be a great inaccuracy.

So, when does a pandemic end? When the COVID-19 virus infection is no longer prevalent worldwide through a medical end. There are two ways that a medical end can be achieved. Herd immunity, like how the Spanish flu in 1918 ended, occurs when enough of the population are infected and either die or develop natural immunity. The other medical end happens when the infection rate plummets because of a vaccine. Unfortunately, we are not even close to either form of a medical end.

Tragically, our elected officials at the state and county level have chosen a social end to the pandemic. This happens when people get tired of trying to slow the spread of the virus. This is not an actual end since the disease doesn’t go away, but continues to spread; killing many more before a medical end can happen with a vaccine.

Those in favor of a social ending advise everyone to stop living in fear. Don’t give in to this negative peer pressure. The common sense thing to do is to continue to wear a mask and social distance. Have the perseverance to wait for a medical end using vaccination. Thank you to the businesses and governmental entities who continue to put everyone’s well being as a priority during this pandemic.

David McCall

Waldeck