The key is testing. If we can test the majority of people in our country then we have a data base upon which we can determine if the infected rate is increasing or decreasing. More importantly we can also calculate if the death rate will be the same, more, or less than the common flu. If we know its decreasing we can open up-albeit slowly-most forms of gathering. If the rate of infection is increasing then we sail the same course we're on now.
Of course a vaccine is critical. But keep in mind the virus, like any, will still be with our bodies even with a vaccine. Like measles, once you have it you always have it. Moreover, COVID-19 has, as of now, multiple strains to it. So, if the vaccine works on one strain does it work on the others ? No one knows the answer to that as yet. At any rate we won't have a provable vaccine for at least a year. So now the effort has to be in testing. In that light we are weeks away from a machine that can test and report back results within 24 hrs-at least here in California. That is critical in determining when we can incrementally begin to loosen up our restrictions.
