What can we do?
Even though COVID-19 isnt seasonal like the influenza, that doesnt indicate we should be any less ready for this years influenza season. In addition, she stresses the importance of continuing public health measures like physical distancing, wearing face masks and avoiding large crowds.
Picture: CGN089 (Shutterstock).
WHO officials have gone out of their way to make sure that they do not describe COVID-19 renewals (like the one currently happening in Hong Kong) as “waves.” There is a factor for this: utilizing the term “waves” makes it seem like the spread of COVID-19 is beyond human control, when at this point we understand that collective, cumulative action can slow the spread, Reuters reports.
Heres what Harris stated about that in the exact same virtual briefing:.
” We are in the first wave. Its going to be one big wave.
This still will not be over soon.
Theres been a lot of talk of different “waves” of COVID-19, similar to what we believe happened throughout the 1918 flu pandemic. Due to the fact that places like New York City– the initial U.S. epicenter– have gotten to the point of being able to reopen, it might appear like the infection rate increase in locations like Arizona and Florida is this “second wave” weve been cautioned about.
Theres no such thing as “COVID season”.
When the unique coronavirus started spreading out in early 2020, some hypothesized that when warmer weather hit, the outbreak would go away by itself. Sure, it was great to hold on to that bit of hope, however as epidemiologists and public health specialists like Dr. Marc Lipsitch, professor of epidemiology and director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, have actually mentioned, thats not how COVID works.
And while there are some similarities (like both diseases being especially harmful for people in high-risk health categories), the World Health Organization (WHO) desires us to know that COVID-19 is unlike influenza in one major way: its not seasonal. Theres been a lot of talk of various “waves” of COVID-19, similar to what we believe happened during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Due to the fact that locations like New York City– the initial U.S. epicenter– have gotten to the point of being able to reopen, it might appear like the infection rate increase in locations like Arizona and Florida is this “2nd wave” weve been cautioned about.” We are in the first wave. Its going to be one huge wave.
This makes sense since were familiar with the flu, and with influenza season, and they appear to offer us a way to make sense of the COVID-19 pandemic. And while there are some resemblances (like both diseases being especially unsafe for people in high-risk health categories), the World Health Organization (WHO) desires us to understand that COVID-19 is unlike influenza in one major method: its not seasonal.
As reassuring as it may be to think about COVID being seasonal or can be found in waves, that doesnt appear to be how this disease works. Settle in, since as Lifehackers senior health editor Beth Skwarecki has told us for months, this isnt going to end soon, herd resistance will not save us and things will probably get even worse.
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In a virtual instruction in Geneva today, Dr. Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson, broke it down for us:.
” People are still considering seasons. What we all require to get our heads around is this is a new infection and … this one is behaving in a different way. Summertime is a problem. This infection likes all weather.”.
