Even as states move forward with plans to open their economies, the manager of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Tuesday that the COVID-19 second wave could be far more terrible because it is likely to coincide with the start of infection season.
Having two concurrent respiratory diseases would put impossible stress on the whole health-care system, he stated. The first wave of COVID-19, the disease made by the coronavirus, has already killed more than 42,000 people nationwide. It has damaged hospitals and exposed gaping shortages in test kits, ventilators, and protective equipment for health-care employees.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Redfield published federal, and state administrators require to use the coming months to prepare for what lies ahead because of the COVID-19 second wave. As stay-at-home orders are raised, leaders need to emphasize the renewed relevance of distancing, he told.
White House Purposes
In addition, they need to massively scale up their ability to recognize the infected through trial and find everyone they interact with thorough communication tracing. Doing so blocks new cases from growing more extensive cracks.
Redfield has announced that he, along with other parts of the White House coronavirus task force, has emphasized the value of social distancing “and the great influence that it’s had on this sickness in our nation.”
As part of the White House guidelines released last week for a gradual reopening of the country, proving by CDC teams is before started in nursing homes in four states for asymptomatic cases. The four states are Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee.
Public Health Issues
The CDC has also outlined detailed guidance for state and local governments on how they can ease mitigation goals, moving from severe conditions such as stay-at-home orders in a phased way to maintain a safe reopening. Redfield said that direction would be “in the public domain quickly.”
The CDC has about 500 staff employees working on a description of public health issues, and most will pivot to the COVID-19 result, Redfield pointed out. The CDC also intends to hire at least another 650 characters as experts to “really augment” public health personnel in the events and assist with contact tracing, among other duties, he returned.
But he noticed a much larger workforce is required. Redfield said the agency is talking with state leaders about the utility of using Census Bureau representatives and the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps volunteers to build “an alternative workforce.”
Preparations For COVID-19 Second Wave
Former CDC director Tom Frieden has concluded that as many as 300,000 contact tracers would be needed in the United States. The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials — which serves state health agencies — estimate 100,000 more contact tracers are needed than are in the states now and call for $3.6 billion in emergency funding from Congress.
In the summer months, U.S. health administrators need to persuade Americans to think ahead to the fall and the effect of getting flu shots. That way, public health leaders can reduce the number of people hospitalized from flu. Getting a flu medication, Redfield said, “may allow there to be a hospital bed available for your mother or grandmother that may get coronavirus.”
Luckily, the arrival of the novel coronavirus in the United States came as the current flu season was waning, he stated. By itself, a severe influenza season can strain dispensaries and hospitals.
