When can we realistically expect things to improve?

DETROIT – Due to the New Year, Michigan has not released state figures on COVID Thursday or Friday.

An update is expected on Saturday that will contain data from the past days.

As vaccine rollouts continue, many people are excited that 2020 is finally over. While that doesn’t mean the coronavirus is gone by midnight, experts are weighing when it’s realistic to expect things to return to normal.

Current estimates put it likely to be closer to the end of 2021. While there are vaccines, the number of people vaccinated and how quickly will affect that timeline.

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

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

He’s not the only one who thinks that. Dr. Frank McGeorge, an emergency room physician with Henry Ford, said the same.

“There is already some evidence that there will be reluctance against vaccines, especially in minority communities. There are also some things we don’t know about the vaccines that will play a role – how effectively will they stop transmission, not just symptomatic disease, that’s a big difference, ”said McGeorge. “Also how long does the immunity last? Those things will affect how long it takes to achieve broad public immunity. “

The same thoughts also play a role at national level. Dr. Anthony Fauci said masks, social aloofness, and other precautions should be left in place until the majority of people are vaccinated.

It’s possible that the restrictions will ease in the summer, but things are not expected to return to normal until the end of the year.