Scientists warned us previously the second COVID surge could be far worse than the first, based on previous epidemics. That’s because it will kick off with a larger infected population, less likely to take precautions due to COVID fatigue. Breaking news as we write on October 20, 2020 is Belgium is ‘close to being overwhelmed’. Then we came across an article on New York Post warning the next few weeks could be the darkest COVID hour. This is not a pleasant thought but we need to take note.
Why the Next Few Weeks Could Be the Darkest COVID Hour
Michael Osterholm is director, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at University of Minnesota. He told New York Post’s Lee Brown the U.S. is facing a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases without a vaccine.
We do have vaccines in the pipe, he explains. However, the next six to twelve weeks are likely to be the ‘worst of the entire pandemic’. This means the next few weeks could be the darkest COVID hour until remedial action kicks in. That’s particularly because we face a large surge while vaccines are still weeks or months away.
Michael Osterholm believes vaccines ‘will not become available in any meaningful way until early to third quarter of 2021. And then half the U.S. population may still be skeptical about taking them. ‘We don’t want to get there through diseases,’ he emphasizes. ‘We want to get there through a vaccination program.’
Large Swathes of U.S. Suffering ‘Second Wave of Cases’
On September 13, 2020, Michael Osterholm points out there were approximately 33,000 new cases in United States. Friday October 16, 2020 we logged over 70,000 and we can expect ‘much, much larger’ numbers in future, he believes.
We agree it is time to start following the ‘tough decisions’ he recommends. This means staying at home, instead of going out in the evening and importing the virus back home.
‘This is our COVID year,’ Michael explains. ‘Let’s accept it. It’s not like last year, and it’s not hopefully going to be like next year. ‘So if you really love the people that you have in your immediate family … do them the greatest gift of all, and that is distance yourself this year and don’t expose them.’
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