Infections will be insignificant in number

A recent study from the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London shows that, despite countries easing lockdowns and re-opening, the rates of infection have been insignificant.^[1] Samir Bhatt, a co-author of the report and an infectious disease epidemiologist at Imperial College London, said this data can be attested to the global population's increasing willingness to implement social distancing and preventative measures into their daily lives. The use of face masks has been proven to reduce the spread of Covid-19, and the global population has shown increased compliance in using them.^[2] According to an ongoing study by YouGov, a vast majority of the population in most countries are wearing masks, including 76% in the U.S., 86% in France, and 89% in Spain.^[3] This is in stark contrast to data from April, which shows less than 50% of people in most countries wearing masks. The UK, for example, had 10% of respondents say they were wearing masks in April. That number has since jumped to 76%. If states continue to monitor transmission but ease lockdown restrictions, cases will not make the jump that so many fear. However, lockdown measures cannot be seen as a one-time thing. Lockdowns may continue over the next year, possibly even two. But, the general public is taking the pandemic more seriously than in the past, which would make lockdowns less lengthy and fewer in number, according to several studies that map the possible trends of the virus. ^[4] While social distancing measures and lockdowns may persist long after January, the global pandemic will be less extreme. The fear associated with the pandemic, the skyrocketing rates of infection and deaths, and the panic that those bring to society will be nullified.