Are We in a Second Wave Yet?
- fionacsweet
- Jun 22, 2020
- 2 min read
The majority of new virus cases in the United States is stemming from the South and West, where officials say more young people are ignoring social distancing measures and testing positive. While younger people are more likely to have mild symptoms, they can still infect others who are more at risk. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, told Axios that these cases in young people is "not surprising...they get infected first, then they come home, and then they infect the older people. The older people get the complications, and then they go to the hospitals. The death rate always lags several weeks behind the infection rate."
The focus on younger coronavirus patients comes with the news that nearly half of states are reporting a rise in new positive cases and some continue to break records in daily reported cases. For example, on Monday Florida surpassed 100,000 total coronavirus cases. Europe and Asia are not having these problems; in contrast with our graph (of new cases) that inclines sharply and then levels off, Europe's graph sharply inclines and then sharply declines (seen in cover photo).
Experts believe the first wave of coronavirus is still not over. Our cases only took a small dip before now increasing months after the pandemic hit the US. As CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta put it, "I don't think we have the luxury of talking about a second wave right now because we have not gotten out of the first wave, and it's not clear that we will get out of the first wave. Instead of actually having a true ebb and flow, it may just be micro and macro peaks for the forseeable future." Michael Osterholm, head of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota even compared the US spread to that of a forest fire. He personally does not see this spread slowing down through the summer or into the fall. Instead of waves of the virus, he thinks we're going to see "one very, very difficult forest fire of cases."
23 states are seeing a rise in new reported cases compared to the previous week. In California, my home state, the number of people hospitalized with this virus is the highest it's been since the beginning of this whole thing. We also have reported the most new cases in a single day (4,515) since the pandemic's start. 17 states are reporting a decline in cases: Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont.
Seeing these stats, I urge all of my fellow Californians to practice social distancing regulations and wear masks when needed. We know all too well the danger of forest fires, and frankly, having to deal with increased cases during our fire season in October is a level of stress I do not want to have to deal with, as I am sure you feel the same. Also, I would like to remind all the young people reading this: we are not invincible. While we get lesser symptoms, we can still pass it on to others who are more susceptible. Please stay safe!
Comentarios