Dr. Luciana Borio

Phasing in the Reopening of the Economy

Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Dr. Luciana Borio, Dr. Florian Krammer, Sharmeen Mosavaramani

As of April 2020, global infections surpassed 3.2 million with 61,600 U.S. fatalities, prompting a complex transition toward economic reopening despite many states failing to meet sustained case reduction criteria. Therapeutic advancements, notably the NIH's findings on baricitinib, offer potential mortality reductions while experimental monoclonal antibodies and multiple vaccine platforms aim for deployment by mid-year to address the pathogen's persistence. Public health officials warn that premature relaxation of restrictions risks autumnal resurgence, necessitating robust testing expansion and contact tracing to manage recurring waves until herd immunity is achieved.