Coronavirus update: Possible scenarios on how the pandemic will come to an end

The coronavirus or COVID19 may currently be disrupting everyday lives, but there is a time where it will end. With that in mind, it bears wondering just how will the pandemic come to a halt.

With hundreds and thousands of confirmed cases of the coronavirus, there have also been thousands of deaths associated with the new strain since the outbreak in December of 2019. Much like the previous pandemics, it will eventually come to an end, and Express reports five possible situations as to how that would go about.

One possible scenario is that a vaccine is found, therefore combating the spread of the virus and curing those infected. This is the situation that health experts and scientists are currently doubling down on as they scramble to find a cure for the disease with cases skyrocketing in both the United States and Europe. Clinical trials have already begun in China while French hospitals are currently experimenting with existing drugs to see what would work.

Another situation is that the virus mutates to the extent where it no longer finds humans as suitable hosts and thus makes it harder to spread. This was what happened with SARS back in 2002. The third scenario is that the coronavirus becomes a seasonal virus, much like the flu. However, experts have warned that even as the weather gets warmer, it would not be enough to slow down the virus.

The fourth scenario is that people become immune to the coronavirus. Government officials in the United Kingdom have thought about the possibility of herd immunity, meaning allowing up to 60 percent of the population to contract the disease and let it play out. The last possible scenario is that the virus never stops spreading and could linger forever and experts will find a way to manage it.

Meanwhile, it was previously reported that clinical trials have begun in Europe for a potential vaccine. As the continent is now known to be the epicenter of the coronavirus, and trials have begun with 3,200 participants. Infectiologist Florence Ader of the Croix-Rouisse Hospital Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department will be spearheading the trials which are referred to as Discovery.