To gain an understanding of what coronavirus is, experts have often compared the new virus to influenza. However, unlike the seasonal flu, the World Health Organization described the pandemic as 'one big wave.'
The warning comes during summertime in the northern hemisphere, where most countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have started lifting their lockdown regulations. At the same time, coronavirus cases have continued to spike daily, especially in states such as Florida and California.
Part of the complacency, the WHO describes, is due to influenza's tendency to arrive in seasons. Although both respiratory diseases are transmitted via direct contact and require basic public health measures such as handwashing, coronavirus is easily a more dominant virus.
Unlike influenza, coronavirus has an infection rate higher than the first virus. COVID-19 has also infected more adults and the elderly, while severe influenza infection was mostly seen in children.
'One Big Wave'
Dr. Margaret Harris said, "We are in the first wave. It's going to be one big wave. It's going to go up and down a bit. The best thing is to flatten it and turn it into just something lapping at your feet."
Dr. Harris also said that people are still thinking about seasons, explaining that many may have not fully understood that SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus that behaves differently.
Summertime is a critical season and a problem, as Dr. Harris describes. "This virus likes all weather," she said. Although the virus thrives in colder and humid weather, as in enclosed, airconditioned places, it remains highly contagious, especially at this time that people are flocking to beaches as lockdown has been lifted.
She also urged people to get the flu vaccine, especially with the flu season arriving in the next few months. Dr. Anthony Fauci had also recommended that Americans get vaccinated as soon as possible since the pandemic will complicate the flu season.
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Basic Guidelines
During the briefing, the WHO reports that there are about 16 million cases worldwide, with more than 640,000 deaths. In the past weeks, which followed countries slowly lifting lockdown regulations, the number of cases has rapidly increased, and daily cases have doubled, said Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO's Director-General.
Dr. Tedros reminded the public of basic guidelines that have been repeated throughout the pandemic: "keep your distance from others, clean your hands, avoid crowded and enclosed areas, and wear a mask." He went on to say that cases decrease where these fundamental measures are followed, and increase where they are not followed.
When asked about travel and opening borders, Executive Director Dr. Mike Ryan talked about how communities have the power to reduce transmission according to their behavior. At the same time, the authorities are capable of increasing the testing, tracing, and other appropriate measures so that together, future lockdown measures can be avoided while keeping the public safe.
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