COLUMBUS, Ohio ―Dr. Bill Miller as a epidemiologist and senior associate dean of research for Ohio State University College of Public Health.
He says for states such as Florida, California, Georgia, Texas and Arizona, which are experiencing an uptick in the number of Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, it's likely a continuation of the first wave.
What You Need To Know
- Coronavirus cases and deaths are expected to rise in the U.S. over the next few months
- One Ohio Epidemiologist says he believes we’ve not yet hit the second wave of the Coronavirus outbreak
- University of Washington model predicts 200,000 U.S. Coronavirus deaths by October 1
Dr. Miller says Ohio has done a great job flattening the curve, but as the state has opened up, and with more mobility and interaction, some people maybe too relaxed on social distance guidelines.
“There are some folks who don't wear masks out in public and those are the kinds of things that are going to shift our curve upward, and that's a concern,” said Dr. Miller.
An updated COVID-19 model from the University of Washington predicts over 200,000 U.S. deaths by October, which is up 30,000 from 10 days ago.
And although many have questioned pervious projections from the University of Washington, Dr. Miller says it's a good thing multiple people are researching this novel virus.
“It's difficult to predict and one of the things that's really just important to remember, is that everything that we do affects the prediction. If we continue in that slightly looser approach to this, then that model could very well be correct,” said Dr. Miller.
On Tuesday we learned about a steroid called Dexamethasone, which, in a clinic trial, performed in England, reduced deaths up to a third among the sickest patients, resulting in less time spent in the hospital.
However, the drug didn't help less ill patients recover and it's not a vaccine.
And although younger people, like many participating in protests across the country, are less likely to suffer from severe symptoms, Dr. Miller fears these so-called “super spreading” events.
“Where one person can be responsible for many infections, especially if they're particularly active in a protest, and they're shouting a lot, that could lead to many infections around them,” said Dr. Miller.
Numbers could rise, too, now that tests are more widely available around the state― many that don't even require a doctor's order.
Regardless, Dr. Miller says when it comes to Ohio, it’s up to each person to continue to flatten the curve and practice social distancing, because just like the nation’s top Doctor Anthony Fauci says, a second wave is “not inevitable.”