Thread by @latimes

While California is making significant progress in the fight against the #COVID_19 pandemic, the state still has a long way to go before returning to life as it was before the pandemic hit.

Vaccines will help but maybe not in the way you might think.

latimes.com/projects/post-…

The ongoing vaccine rollout has raised hopes for some semblance of normalcy in the near future.

But experts caution that the pandemic may continue for months and the virus may never fully be eradicated.

latimes.com/projects/post-…

Vaccines can't do it all, experts say.

Three #coronairus vaccines were granted emergency use authorization because, in clinical trials, they greatly reduced the risk of illness, hospitalizations and deaths.

latimes.com/projects/post-…

However, it is unknown whether the #vaccines prevented people from becoming infected with the coronavirus or, if infected, from spreading it.

latimes.com/projects/post-…

Regardless of how the vaccines fare at stopping transmission, this is clear: They are highly effective at preventing severe cases of COVID-19.

That's why officials largely prioritized giving doses to people who are most at risk of becoming severely sick.

latimes.com/projects/post-…

While the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are declining, there's still a ways to go.

The true indicator of whether the #outbreak is under control is the number of new cases each day.

latimes.com/projects/post-…

See more about California’s path to a post-pandemic life and the impact of vaccines from @ryanvmenezes and @swetha_kan at latimes.com/projects/post-…