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We're definitely going to make it through this. There's a lot of promise for both front-end prevention and back-end therapeutics (including what is not clinically proven and being abandoned)--several likely viable options for both areas. A strong case for some people to have pre-existing T Cell immunity responses, particularly from the CD4 variety. Also getting a better understanding of the biomarkers that can predict poorer outcomes (e.g., IL6 is a heavy contributor for the cytokine storms that cause the hallmark system failures for COVID-19). It's a marathon though...
What's really crazy is just how much this parallels the 1918 "influenza" outbreak. Sports cancelations, social distancing in workplaces, heightened hygiene procedures, arguing over masks, even down to outcomes for American Samoa and Western Samoa (one shut borders, one did not). We're right back to some of the same shit, just a different day. We'll likely stop doing all those extra things, just like the early 20s, and we'll hope to not need to repeat them again next time.
Ultimate outcome is likely the same as "Spanish Flu"--it settles into a seasonal endemic of some kind or other and we progressively adapt better to it (good old T cells, except for the fact they like to be less effective as we age and that likely means it will still be dangerous for older people and the very young) and be able to churn out some good medicines. Basically this will very likely become quite flu-like, but we're not there yet and have some more work to do and manage until then.
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