At TEDMED 2020 (March 3), Virologist and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Director Peter Piot sat down for a Q & A with TEDMED's Jay Walker to talk about the “novel” coronavirus. As Peter emphasizes in the conversation, “This is not a drill, it is the real thing.” Hear this world-renowned expert explain how easily this virus spreads, the realistic effectiveness of face masks, and the importance of slowing the spread of the disease. Peter also shares his thoughts on the potential timeframe for drug treatment options and a future vaccine.

In the context of the next pandemic and our future, Peter explained that, “We have to be realistic; this is a never-ending battle of humankind against viruses, don’t forget it’s a virus planet. But we are better prepared for the next epidemic when it strikes—that’s really important for us—and for that we need to be absolutely committed to build a global fire brigade I would say, long before the house catches on fire next time.” Visit TEDMED.com to read more about Peter and his work.