The second wave of coronavirus may be worse
By
Staff, AccuWeather
Published Apr 28, 2020 4:58 PM EDT
From temporary field hospitals to quiet streets, aerial footage captured on April 16 shows the state of New York, New York, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The nation’s top health experts are sounding the alarm on a frightening COVID-19 scenario: the current coronavirus pandemic that has sickened millions and killed tens of thousands across the world may only be the first round. Doctors and nurses on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight are bracing for what could be a worse second wave of coronavirus. This renews concerns as to whether there are enough hospital beds, ventilators, and personal protective equipment (PPE) if there is a coronavirus resurgence in the fall.
Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tells The Washington Post a second wave of coronavirus later this year could be “more difficult” than the current strand that has brought the world to a virtual standstill. What is making the COVID-19 virus so vicious the next time around? The new wave of coronavirus would clash with the start of flu season.
Photo by Martin Mejia
Martin Mejia
Flu season typically starts in late fall, around September, and peaks anywhere from December to May. In the interview, Dr. Redfield eyes winter as being the prime target of when coronavirus could get out of control again. Dr. Redfield says “there’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be more difficult than the one we just went through.” He is urging U.S. officials to prepare now for the possibility of having to confront a flu and a coronavirus pandemic at the sametime.
Photo by Kin Cheung
AP / Kin Cheung)
Dr. Redfield says a winter outbreak of coronavirus would be catastrophic for hospitals when layered on top of the typical winter flu season and other illnesses that are prevalent in the winter months. Hospitals in hotspots like New York are already strained from a lack of beds, ventilators, and PPE.
Rogelio V. Solis
V. Solis
In the interview, Dr. Redfield said federal and state officials need to use the coming months to prepare for what lies ahead. As stay-at-home orders are lifted, officials need to stress the critical importance of continued social distancing, he said. They also need to massively increase the ability to identify people infected with coronavirus through testing and everyone they interact with through contact tracing. Doing this, according to Dr. Redfield, prevents new cases from becoming larger outbreaks. While some clinical trials for coronavirus treatments are showing very encouraging signs on the small scale, the U.S. is still likely 12 to 18 months away from a widespread vaccine. Because of this, Dr. Redfield says it will be more important than ever for people to get flu shots to reduce the risk of contracting influenza and help lessen the burden on the struggling healthcare system. He told The Washington Post that more people getting vaccinated against the flu “may allow there to be a hospital bed available for your mother or grandmother that may get coronavirus.”
Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast
Rex Arbogast
While winter seems like a lifetime away, it will be here before we know it. However, it will likely be a long while before things return to normal. We can all do our parts to get ahead of the COVID-19 curve by continuing social distancing, limiting contact with strangers, like takeout food drivers, standing at least six feet away from other people, wearing cloth masks in public, and proper handwashing techniques. The anticipated second wave may renew anxiety in your children, so it’s important to talk to them routinely about how they’re feeling and what they’re fearful of.
AccuWeather is committed to providing you with the most accurate and up-to-date information on the fight against COVID-19. We have it covered on all fronts, including an interactive map to track the outbreak and recoveries in your town and an in-depth podcast.
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News / Health
The second wave of coronavirus may be worse
By Staff, AccuWeather
Published Apr 28, 2020 4:58 PM EDT
From temporary field hospitals to quiet streets, aerial footage captured on April 16 shows the state of New York, New York, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The nation’s top health experts are sounding the alarm on a frightening COVID-19 scenario: the current coronavirus pandemic that has sickened millions and killed tens of thousands across the world may only be the first round. Doctors and nurses on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight are bracing for what could be a worse second wave of coronavirus. This renews concerns as to whether there are enough hospital beds, ventilators, and personal protective equipment (PPE) if there is a coronavirus resurgence in the fall.
Photo by CDC
The frightening forecast
Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tells The Washington Post a second wave of coronavirus later this year could be “more difficult” than the current strand that has brought the world to a virtual standstill. What is making the COVID-19 virus so vicious the next time around? The new wave of coronavirus would clash with the start of flu season.
Photo by Martin Mejia
The timeline of the second wave of coronavirus
Flu season typically starts in late fall, around September, and peaks anywhere from December to May. In the interview, Dr. Redfield eyes winter as being the prime target of when coronavirus could get out of control again. Dr. Redfield says “there’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be more difficult than the one we just went through.” He is urging U.S. officials to prepare now for the possibility of having to confront a flu and a coronavirus pandemic at the sametime.
Photo by Kin Cheung
Is the healthcare system equipped to handle coronavirus and flu at the same time?
Dr. Redfield says a winter outbreak of coronavirus would be catastrophic for hospitals when layered on top of the typical winter flu season and other illnesses that are prevalent in the winter months. Hospitals in hotspots like New York are already strained from a lack of beds, ventilators, and PPE.
Rogelio V. Solis
What can be done to get ahead of the second wave of coronavirus?
In the interview, Dr. Redfield said federal and state officials need to use the coming months to prepare for what lies ahead. As stay-at-home orders are lifted, officials need to stress the critical importance of continued social distancing, he said. They also need to massively increase the ability to identify people infected with coronavirus through testing and everyone they interact with through contact tracing. Doing this, according to Dr. Redfield, prevents new cases from becoming larger outbreaks. While some clinical trials for coronavirus treatments are showing very encouraging signs on the small scale, the U.S. is still likely 12 to 18 months away from a widespread vaccine. Because of this, Dr. Redfield says it will be more important than ever for people to get flu shots to reduce the risk of contracting influenza and help lessen the burden on the struggling healthcare system. He told The Washington Post that more people getting vaccinated against the flu “may allow there to be a hospital bed available for your mother or grandmother that may get coronavirus.”
Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast
While winter seems like a lifetime away, it will be here before we know it. However, it will likely be a long while before things return to normal. We can all do our parts to get ahead of the COVID-19 curve by continuing social distancing, limiting contact with strangers, like takeout food drivers, standing at least six feet away from other people, wearing cloth masks in public, and proper handwashing techniques. The anticipated second wave may renew anxiety in your children, so it’s important to talk to them routinely about how they’re feeling and what they’re fearful of.
AccuWeather is committed to providing you with the most accurate and up-to-date information on the fight against COVID-19. We have it covered on all fronts, including an interactive map to track the outbreak and recoveries in your town and an in-depth podcast.
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