The current circumstances surrounding the second wave of the Coronavirus infections across the world indicate that all efforts to curtail the spread of the rampaging virus is still slightly ineffective.

World Health Organization Statistics

On May 31, 2020, the WHO Situation Report put the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide at 5,934,936 (nearly 6 million cases). This was when many countries, including New Zealand and Japan were partly or fully reopening their economies, schools, and lifting sundry restrictions in their communities.

By August 12, 2020, the same WHO Situation Report confirmed that there were 20,162, 474 (a little over 20 million cases), globally. That is a whopping 335% increase in the number of COVID-19 cases engendered by the second wave infections.

The Bluest Winter?

The previous notion that the summer heat could deter the virus from spreading turned out to be inapplicable. However, it is a generally known fact that the Coronavirus is a flu-like virus that becomes super active in winter.

As the winter approaches, it is left for nations to strategize their COVID-19 responses and prevent a third wave that can lead to the “Bluest Winter”. Because anything short of well-coordinated responses can lead to COVID-19 Doomsday, whereby countries’ health facilities are overwhelmed by large number of infections, even as nations are no longer willing to shutdown their economies.

Don’t be Too Scared!

Instead of panicking, you can take the following sensible steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from Coronavirus:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If water is not available, you can use a hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with hands you haven’t washed.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If the cases of Coronavirus infections are rising in your community, practice distancing yourself from people in a crowd or at the public places. You can choose to avoid gatherings of people altogether.
• Wear a face mask.
• Clean and disinfect your surroundings.