As Coronavirus Cases Continue to Surge, Here’s What You Need to Know
As the world has started to emerge from quarantine and businesses reopen, there has also been a disturbing surge in COVID-19 cases. Summer is in full swing, and with many Americans still planning substantial travel (even if mostly domestic), there is a real chance that another wave of the coronavirus is coming.
Health officials are continuing to call for caution to help avoid a potential second wave in the fall, which could coincide with flu season. This combination could be potentially catastrophic for our healthcare system, potentially filling up hospital beds and stressing healthcare workers past their limits. What impact can a second wave really have on us, and what are the experts saying now?
Arriving at a Crossroads
After an initial plateauing of new cases across the country, many states began loosening shelter-in-place and lockdown restrictions to allow businesses to reopen. People across the country remain concerned about the effects of quarantines on the economy. In addition, as the pandemic drags on, many people are feeling restless and ready to see things open up. For these people, the virus does not seem as threatening as it may have appeared back in April.
However, now that businesses are reopening, the consequences have begun to appear. Many states have successfully kept their infection rates down by implementing social distancing measures, requiring masks in public, and mandating more stringent cleaning and sanitation procedures.
At the same time, other states are facing the consequences of rapid reopening and blatant disregard of social distancing guidelines. Without quick action, it’s possible that hospitals could see an overwhelming number of patients. This could have devastating consequences, not only for patients with COVID-19, but also for patients with other illnesses and injuries who may not receive the proper standard of care when hospital ICUs fill past their capacity. The actions of state governments in the coming weeks and people’s behavior can either help or hinder any outbreaks.
Dr. Anthony Fauci Pleads with the Public
Infectious disease expert and White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke before a US House of Representatives committee on June 23. He painted a picture of the coronavirus pandemic that is strikingly grimmer than that painted by President Trump.
Speaking to the House committee, Dr. Fauci cited a “disturbing increase” in the number of infections over the past few days, which reflects a continued increase in community spread. According to an analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University by CNBC, the US experienced a 30 percent increase in infections during the week ending June 22, as compared to the week prior.
US cases rose to around 30,000 new cases per day at the end of June after plateauing around 20,000 new cases per day for several weeks after quarantining and social distancing measures were implemented. With many parts of the country reopening, daily new cases exceeded 40,000 for the first time on June 24. As of July 7, NPR is reporting that 46 states are seeing increases in daily case counts, likely a consequence of reopening and loosening social distancing concerns.
Societal Responsibility
Among his remarks, Dr. Fauci made a call for societal responsibility among all Americans. He has noted that though everyone has individual responsibilities, if the outbreak of coronavirus is to be truly controlled, everyone additionally has a societal responsibility to everyone else. In Dr. Fauci’s words, we can either be part of the solution or part of the problem. While acknowledging that some states have indeed handled reopening quite well, the other areas that are experiencing disturbing increases in cases could have a devastating effect on the rest of the country.
Despite the fact that we are a diverse, large country, Dr. Fauci notes that this does not mean there is no interaction or interconnectedness. Because of this, the states experiencing large surges in new cases could indeed affect other states all the way across the country. His concerns and cautions come in stark contrast to remarks made by other public officials, including President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Many of them have chosen to instead emphasize the progress the country has made in dealing with the pandemic and ease concerns.
Take Precautions
With no vaccine available and no guaranteed-effective treatments for COVID-19, experts like Dr. Fauci are pleading with Americans to practice social distancing guidelines, avoid large crowds, and wear face masks and other coverings when in public. Both Dr. Fauci and officials at the CDC have dismissed the idea that the virus will simply go away on its own, cautioning instead that we will likely see another wave in the fall and winter that may coincide with flu season. The combination of two different respiratory infections that can be extremely serious for certain people could be devastating to our healthcare system. This danger makes it all the more essential to try to reduce new infections during the next few weeks and months.
