The consequences of ending early - Is a second wave of COVID-19 inevitable?

Mar 29, 2020

2 min

Zach Jenkins


America is in lockdown. As the COVID-19 virus spreads to just about every corner of America and the planet for that matter, extreme measures are being brought in by various levels of local, state and the federal government to help contain the spread of this virus that is growing in near exponential numbers daily.


Despite the White House advising all Americans to practice social distancing, the number of coronavirus cases in the US continues to rise. So, governors across the nation are taking stronger action by issuing stay-at-home orders in their states.


By March 30, at least 27 states will have those orders in effect. Those states contain more than 225 million people -- more than two-thirds of the country's population. CNN - March 28



And as Americans comply with these orders, there’s a growing anticipation about when people will be able to return to work and resume a semi-normal routine. Some are saying weeks, others indicating months. But the reality is, as much as many yearn for normalcy, going back too early could come with even steeper consequences than waiting the epidemic out.

 

If there is a second wave of COVID-19 infections – it could be disastrous.


  • What would a second wave look like and how would it spread?
  • Can people be re-infected?
  • Does America have the front-line capacity to take on another fresh round of infections?
  • Can the country’s stretched medical system handle more patients?
  • And how much longer would it take to try and contain the spread of COVID-19 for a second time?

 



There are a lot of questions to be answered, and that’s where our experts can help.

 

Dr. Zach Jenkins is an infectious disease expert at Cedarville University. He is available to speak with media about this topic – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.



Connect with:
Zach Jenkins

Zach Jenkins

Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice & Clinical Specialist, Infectious Diseases

Dr. Zach Jenkins is an infectious disease expert who loves educating others about superbugs, antibiotic therapy, and emergency preparedness.

VaccinesSuperbugsVirusesCOVID-19Infectious Diseases

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Cedarville University

1 min

Farewell to the Penny

Since its creation in 1792, the penny has had a notable role in American currency. But 2026, will mark the end of the one cent after 233 years.  In June of 2025, the U.S. Treasury made its final order for penny blanks. The U.S. Mint stated that it's lost $85.3 million on the 3.2 billion pennies they produced in the 2024 fiscal year. It is estimated that the government will save $56 million annually once the production of the penny stops.  The penny was one of the first coins produced by the U.S. Mint in 1792 and was originally designed by Benjamin Franklin. Since then, the penny has been used to mark significant events in American history as its design has changed over the years. The penny, starting in 1857, has been the smallest form of currency used in America.  Now the nickel will become the smallest coin to be used in cash purchases. With this change it is expected that getting your exact change will become difficult, causing businesses to either round up or round down to the nearest five cents.  Dr. Jared Pincin is an expert on economics and is available to speak to media regarding penny production and the economy – simply click on his icon or email mweinstein@cedarville.edu to arrange an interview.

1 min

What's Happening with the Measles Outbreak?

Fear rises in the hearts of Americans as news of the measles outbreak has surfaced across media platforms. The entrance of the measles vaccine in 1963, enabled the US to eradicate measles by 2000. Due to international contact with those who have not eliminated measles caused it to resurface in 2018. The following year saw 764 cases making it the highest number of cases in 25 years.  This year the measles outbreak has reached the news again with reports of 14 outbreaks and 977 of the 1,088 cases caused by the outbreaks. The year prior to 2025 saw 16 outbreak reports, but fewer cases.   So far 2025 has experienced three deaths (two children and one adult) due to measles. Children and teens under 20 make up 67% of the cases and 96% of infections are found in those who have not been vaccinated, or their vaccination status is unknown.   Dr. Zach Jenkins, professor of pharmacy practice and director of advanced pharmacy practice experiences of at Cedarville University. To schedule an interview, email Mark D. Weinstein, executive director of public relations at Cedarville University at mweinstein@cedarville.edu or click on his icon. 

2 min

Why Did NATO Assembly Select Dayton, Ohio?

Why was Dayton, Ohio selected to host the 2025 Spring NATO Parliamentary Assembly? Ohio's Gem City will host 282 NATO members and nearly 100 partner legislators for gathering. This is the first time in 20 years that a U.S. city held this meeting. The NATO civilians are gathering at The NATO Village, a secure location in downtown Dayton, to discuss critical issues in relation to NATO's defense and security agenda. They will also be examining the war in Ukraine.  Two logistical reasons for why Dayton was selected is its proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, a base that focuses on national security, and Dayton is the location where the Dayton Peace Accords were signed 30 years ago. The Accords aided in the ending of the Bosnian War. Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), head of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, has been the driving force behind getting the Parliamentary Assembly to Dayton. During this five-day event NATO leaders will examine membership, defense funding, increasing fiscal contributions, strategic deterrence and transatlantic security bond. It is expected that at least two new plans will be proposed to assist in the aforementioned goals. The leaders wish to ensure Ukraine of their support in their fight for freedom and will be considering ways to enforce their support.  Dr. Glen Duerr, professor of international studies at Cedarville University and a citizen of the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, is a nationally known expert on this subject and is available to speak to media regarding the NATO Spring Parliamentary Assembly and the implications is has for the U.S. and Dayton, Ohio. To schedule an interview, email Mark D. Weinstein, executive director of public relations at Cedarville University at mweinstein@cedarville.edu or click on his icon.      

View all posts