The most honest answer, according to experts, is: “It depends.” It’s not going to be over anytime soon — a matter of months rather than weeks. And a few key factors will determine just how many months.
First, it depends on when U.S. cases finally reach their peak — a time that’s impossible to predict because of how limited testing remains in America. And even after the peak, we may need drastic actions to keep the virus at bay. It also depends on how the virus behaves, and whether it’ll be affected by the change of seasons like the flu.
But, ultimately, how well America is able to flatten and bend its epidemiological curve of infections depends largely on how willing people will be to sacrifice individual conveniences and on their desire to save the lives of others.
“I don’t know if people are ready now for how long they’re probably going to have to keep up this social distancing," said Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida. "But as they see the hospital situation get more extreme, I think that attitude will change.”