A Second Wave of COVID-19

Second wave of COVID-19? Coronavirus outbreaks emerging in U.S. states reopening: Arizona, Florida, Texas, California and more | Fortune

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A fresh onslaught of the coronavirus is bringing challenges for residents and the economy in pockets across the U.S. The localized surges have raised alarms among experts even as they’re masked …

SUMMARY

As the number of new cases of COVID-19 began to decline, states began reopening. However, now that several states have been opened for sufficient periods of time, there is a resurgence in new cases. Experts see evidence of a second resurgence in states including Arizona, California, Texas and Florida. In the past two weeks, Arizona’s daily number of two cases has spiked, hitting an all-time high of 1,187 on June 2^nd. This week, a month after it’s reopening, Florida reported 8,553 new cases, the most of any seven-day period. In both Texas and California, hospitalizations are at their highest and continuously increasing. Case counts in California are also increasing, some of which represent the virus spreading into new places that avoided the first round of infection.

Although these new outbreaks came once states reopened, it is not 100% clear if the increase in new cases can be directly linked to the reopening’s. In some states, like Georgia, cases have plateaued even when places like salons and gyms opened for over a month. There are so many unexplainable differences among states and even within states that it is difficult for experts to know if there is a direct correlation or not. The White House Coronavirus Task Force has yet to see any relationship between reopening and increased cases of COVID-19.

In many parts of the country, even as states continue to reopen, precautions like social distancing and wearing masks will more than likely remain enforces has the U.S. braces for another wave of the virus. Experts are especially nervous for the Fall due to changes in the weather and the possibility of schools reopening. The second wave is not likely to mirror the first wave, which makes preparation even more difficult. Daniel Lucey, a fellow at the Infectious Diseases Society of America, compared the virus’ new paradigm to a day at the beach: The U.S. has been bracing for another “high tide” like what engulfed New York City. But today is a low tide and “the waves are always coming in.”