TedEd: When is a pandemic over?

A TedEd by Alex Rosenthal

Several months ago, the COVID-19 disease transferred to humans through animals. It quickly spread when public health measures couldn't contain it, and the WHO declared a pandemic. As the death tolls rise, many are wondering the same thing: When will it be over? The WHO will declare it over when the virus is contained and infection rates drop. There are three main ways this could happen. Race Through It, Delay and Vaccinate, or Coordinate and Crush. The first is when governments do nothing to stop the virus and allow people to be infected. Doctors and researchers have little time to learn about the virus, and hospitals quickly overflow. Many millions die, and people either die or become immune. At this point, we gain herd immunity and the virus cannot infect anymore people. The pandemic is over as soon as it began. The second method also involves herd immunity. Delay and vaccinate works when governments enforce strict public health protocols the minute the pandemic breaks out. Widespread testing, quarantine of those infected, and physical distancing slow the spread of the virus. This gives researchers time to study the virus and find a vaccine over the next few years. Once a majority of a population has received it, herd immunity eradicates the virus. The death toll here is just a few hundred thousand, much lower than in race through it tactics. Coordinate and crush occurs when governments work together to stop the virus from spreading instead of only looking at their own countries. In a typical pandemic, one country peaks as another sees its first cases, and when things like quarantine and travel restrictions are coordinated properly, the virus is contained. However, the virus could return unless it is eradicated, which is highly unlikely. So which method is best? Vaccination is often considered to be the best, as it has low death tolls and is more likely to work than the other two. Plus, it could be reused in the future.