Marla Ahlgrimm | A Second Wave May Be On The Horizon

When the coronavirus first made its entrance in the United States, it came in hard and fast. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, a second wave, one that’s every bit intense as the first, may be on its way.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that many health experts believe late fall and early winter may trigger an uptick in COVID-19 cases. It is almost impossible, however, to accurately predict how a novel virus will react from one season to the next. What we do know is that warm weather was not the savior we all expected.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains further that large crowds, such as unsanctioned gatherings and protests, may usher in localized epidemics.

The World Health Organization and other agencies do not have an official definition of what, exactly, defines a second, or even third, wave. Most experts, such as Marla Ahlgrimm, say that it is up to experience, speculation, and interpretation. What is accepted universally is that a second wave really just means an increase in disease transmission after a noticeable decline.

Marla Ahlgrimm notes that, although a vast majority of the population has been exposed to the virus, many did not contract it when it first entered the US in March. What this means is that we have not established herd immunity. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that herd immunity can only happen when the vast majority of people in a population have experienced an infectious disease. Immunity is the result of antibodies built up after initial exposure.

Marla Ahlgrimm compares the coronavirus to the 1918 flu pandemic. At that time, there were three major periods of infection: spring, fall, and winter. This is likely to happen with the coronavirus, with each wave being triggered as people become more and more comfortable living in a world with this new health threat.