What is herd immunity and why does it matter in the fight against coronavirus?
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Fewer tables in restaurants. Everyone wearing masks. Staggered start times at schools. The “new normal,” as outlined by California Gov. Gavin Newsom last week, will be a big change in the time of the coronavirus. But the old concept of normal — sharing a drink in a crowded bar or standing shoulder to shoulder with fans at a packed sporting event — might not be back “until we have herd immunity,” the governor said. How long until then? In short: it’s complicated. Here’s what to know about herd immunity, our long-term goal in the fight against COVID-19.