One expert's timeframe for when it will be safe for us all to be a part of large gatherings like concerts and sporting events is pretty shocking.

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Zeke Emanuel is Director of the Healthcare Transformation Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. He's part of a panel the New York Times put together to tackle COVID-19 issues.

So when can we expect to watch the Giants play at MetLife, or see our favorite artist at the PNC Bank Arts Center? As reported by consequenceofsound.net, and from the New York Times:

fall 2021 at the earliest

I know. My heart sank when I first read that too. Dr. Emanuel went on to say:

You can’t just flip a switch and open the whole of society up. It’s just not going to work. It’s too much. The virus will definitely flare back to the worst levels.

And you know, he's right.

Most of the doctors on this New York Times panel say developing and distributing a vaccine for COVID-19 will be the game-changer. The time table on that happening is about 12-18 months from now.

Dr. Emanuel said that the "reopening" of the Country will likely happen in stages, with concerts, sporting events, and large gatherings being the last to go back to normal. Whatever normal is going to be.

Hopefully, the Doc is just being conservative, and the efforts that we are making now to stop the spread will move things along. We can only hope.

MORE: See absolutely chilling photos of empty public spaces worldwide

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