All you need to know about the second wave of COVID-19

Second wave of COVID-19

It’s referred to a serious increase in the number of cases that occurs after the original surge has been stopped in a particular area. Pandemics are mainly caused by the new pathogens that the vast majority of humans have no immune protection against. That’s what causes global outbreaks. After few months, it comes back and spreads around the world, or large parts of it, again.

Most countries have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by restricting movement, which slows down the virus’s spread but leaves many people vulnerable to infection once they begin to go out again. But, different parts of the world have seen localised outbreaks weeks into their re-openings. They’re mainly linked to the resumed economic activity. Lifting containment measures too allows cases to start rising. Cold weather is a major factor which affects the coronavirus. The pathogen can mutate. Another important thing is the movement of the virus to populations that haven’t been exposed before and don’t have immunity. Testing, isolating and contact-tracing remain the main tools to stop a cluster from growing into a wave.

Prevention

The threat of a second wave of COVID-19 is very serious and can cost people their lives and economic well-being. Second wave mainly depends on how well we all do at infection control measures, like distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing. If everybody just had a mask then the transmission can be stopped. One simply cannot get infected with this virus unless you breathe it in, or you touch an infected surface and then touch your eyes, nose and mouth. Along with maintaining social distance and wearing a mask, the only other thing that will change or mitigate the severity of a second wait is when and if vaccines become available.

Dr Pavan Kumar Reddy
MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine)
Consultant General Physician
OMNI Hospitals, Kothapet