As states consider reopening, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Robert Redfield warned federal and state officials on Tuesday that they need to use the coming months to prepare for what lies ahead.
He believes that a second wave of coronavirus will be far more deadly because it is likely to occur during the flu season, according to a report by the Washington Post who interviewed the CDC director.
A second wave is coming
CDC Director Robert Redfield said in an interview in the Washington Post that, "there's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through, and when I've said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don't understand what I mean. We're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time."
Having the coronavirus during the flu season will surely put unimaginable strain on the country's healthcare system, as the first wave of the coronavirus has already caused 42,000 deaths across the country and has overwhelmed hospitals. Ever since the outbreak, reports of shortages in test kits, ventilators, and protective equipment for healthcare workers has become a problem to America's healthcare system.
Redfield warns federal and state officials during a wide-ranging interview, that they need to use the coming months to prepare for the two outbreaks that may happen in winter. Officials need to stress the importance of continued social distancing as stay-at-home orders will be lifted.
Furthermore, he also said that they need to step up their efforts in identifying infected individuals and everyone they interact with through testing and contact tracing, Redfield said. This is important to follow to prevent new cases of COVID-19.
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Protesters all over America
Asked about his opinion on the protesters coming out in multiple states against the stay-at-home orders by the governors, who are strictly following the guidelines of CDC, asking them to "liberate" them from restrictions, Redfield said that "It's not helpful."
While Trump unveiled guidance last week to help states loosen their social distancing restrictions, he also tweeted encouragement of protests urging followers to "LIBERATE MINNESOTA!" and "LIBERATE MICHIGAN!"
Redfield called for states to spend the next few months preparing for the next wave of the outbreak by continuing to do the guidelines set by the CDC and improving testing and contact tracing. Looking ahead, he thinks that the best preventive campaign for flu is to take flu shots to reduce flu hospitalizations.
Getting a flu vaccine may allow more hospital beds available for a family member or anyone that may contact COVId-19, said Redfield.
Fortunately, the first wave of COVID-19 came as the flu season is waning in the United States because even if influenza alone, it can already strain the healthcare system of the country. If the two outbreaks peak at the same time, it could be really difficult in terms of health capacity, he said.
