As many European countries struggle to battle a second wave of the coronavirus, a leading virologist warns that returning to lockdowns and restrictions is the only way to combat COVID-19 in the long run. Dr. Margarita del Val is a top expert in Spain, where the COVID-19 weary country has once again doubled down on its efforts to contain the virus by restricting shops, bars, and restaurants to 50% capacity.

She urged the government to supply people in the heavily affected areas of Madrid with fresh masks every time they use public transportation and asked hotels to reopen to allow people with symptoms to safely quarantine. The immunologist told Market Watch she was concerned about indoor dining at restaurants and a lack of social distancing in outside eateries.

In the U.S., experts are also predicting a long road ahead, even when we eventually get a COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Kaiser Health News, Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, said: “If you are looking for a magic wand, you won’t find one in vaccines,” adding that the vaccine will “play a substantial role in reducing the pandemic.”

Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the logistics of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine may mean that returning to normal life will not happen until 2021, according to Kaiser Health News.

For all these reasons, healthcare experts advise that we hold onto our masks, continue to wash our hands, and maintain social distancing.

In the long run, del Val said that lifestyle changes must remain in place to contain the virus.

“We will get over this in some years, but we don’t have to expect this is going to be a hundred-meter run,” she told Market Watch. “It’s going to be a marathon.”