While some of us may be tempted to put our hopes into the development of a miracle vaccine or magical cure for the coronavirus, holding out for a perfect solution could be unwise. The rapid and extensive use of a number of imperfect prevention and treatment methods is the key to turning the tide, according to Dr. Joshua Schiffer.

Schiffer, an associate professor in the vaccine and infectious disease division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center discusses the benefits of some effective — although far from flawless — tools in the battle against COVID-19. It’s an approach that reminds him of swiss cheese, he says, because “each of these strategies has holes. But, if you apply all of them, fewer infections break through.”

Three Takeaways:

  • A number of inexpensive and “imperfect interventions” should be rapidly ramped up in the U.S. to reduce infection rates and save lives, as they have in other countries, including in regions with less advanced health care systems, says Schiffer. For example, his research group has carried out mathematical modeling that shows the significant impact that widespread mask-wearing can have in lowering transmission rates and potentially the severity of sickness.
  • Schiffer is critical of the slow development and testing of medicines such as antivirals, which can limit levels of infection and inflammation. The physician says even partially effective therapies can prevent deaths and hospitalizations. He also believes that some treatments could be more successful if used in earlier stages of the illness, as is the case with other viruses such as HIV, influenza and Ebola.
  • Throughout much of the U.S. and in Europe, the average person with coronavirus currently infects about one other person. “Flirting with an effective reproductive number of one” is too close to a dangerous tipping point, according to Schiffer. He says the reproduction rate needs to come down, and controlling “superspreader events” with intervention efforts is important. When it comes to early detection of SARS-CoV-2, widespread and frequent use of rapid and low-cost paper-strip tests would be helpful too, he says.