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COVID-19 cases on the rise again in Florida, local health expert warns we could be entering 2nd wave

Posted at 6:23 AM, Oct 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-29 12:11:19-04

TAMPA, Fla. — COVID-19 cases rising again in Florida. Experts say many people around the world have now experienced two versions of a surge in COVID-19 cases, and the predictions are that Florida could be next.

“Florida is beginning to experience a creep up again,” said Dr. Jay Wolfson, USF Health Professor of Public Health, Medicine, and Pharmacy.

Experts say there are several things that led up to this increase.

“We had Memorial Day that everybody came out. We had the opening of the bars and restaurants and we had the wonderful celebration in the streets bringing home the Stanley Cup to Tampa Bay,” said Wolfson.

Those were all potential super spreader events, where one person can spread the virus to many people.

Wolfson says that means we could be on our way to a second wave.

“When that begins to tick up then we will see some increase in hospitalizations and for the most at-risk populations, ICU cases, ICU stays, and some increase in death,” said Wolfson.

Doctors say many people around the world have now experienced two versions of a surge in COVID-19 cases, and the predictions are that Florida could be next.

RELATED: 'We are deep in the second wave': European countries impose more curfews, restrictions

“Because it’s so quiet we don’t see people dropping dead like flies around us, we say maybe it’s not that bad. It won’t hurt me, it won’t affect me, I can get over it. You may. You may not get symptoms and you may not get sick. You may not even get positive but we don’t even know once you get it if you’re going to have immunity,” said Wolfson.

He says we need to get this under control to keep people healthy and avoid shutting down the economy.

“The testing rates in our community have gone way down. We’re not testing as much as we used to. A lot of folks may be out there with it passing it on to other friends and colleagues who are probably going to have asymptomatic experiences,” said Wolfson.

Doctors say right now the biggest rise in cases is in 20 to 40 year olds.

They’re warning people stay vigilant and continue wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and avoid large gatherings.

“Only you can prevent COVID. We don’t have a vaccine yet, we don’t have a standard treatment,” said Wolfson.