Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told The Washington Post Tuesday that a second coronavirus wave could put even more pressure on the U.S. healthcare system because it would be likely to coincide with the annual flu season, as some states announce they are preparing to gradually reopen.
Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has warned that a ... [+] 
The first wave hit the U.S. just as the flu season was winding down, a small blessing in Redfield's eyes; if the two outbreaks had hit at the same time, "it could have been really, really, really, really difficult in terms of health capacity," Redfield said in an interview with The Washington Post.
The first coronavirus pandemic wave has infected more than 800,000 Americans and killed nearly 43,000 as of Tuesday afternoon, as well as overpowered hospitals and led to shortages in protective equipment, ventilators and coronavirus tests.
As coronavirus crackdowns ease up, Redfield stressed the importance of state and federal officials using the next few months to prevent another coronavirus wave through ramping up testing and by increasing the capacity for contact tracing-tracking whom an infected person may have come into contact with-along with continuing to encourage social distancing, even once society reopens.
Americans can help the effort by getting a flu shot this year-keeping hospitalizations for the usual flu strain down "may allow there to be a hospital bed available for your mother or grandmother that may get coronavirus," Redfield said.
"There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," Redfield told The Washington Post. "And when I've said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don't understand what I mean."
Last week, Redfield appeared on Good Morning America and said that while it's not certain that there will be a second wave, it's critical that officials plan for that scenario in case the virus follows a flu-like seasonality pattern. It would mirror what the U.S. saw during the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009-a first, smaller outbreak in the spring, followed by a larger wave in autumn and winter.
CDC director warns second wave of coronavirus this winter will likely be worse ( The Washington Post)
CDC director warns second wave of coronavirus might be 'more difficult' ( The Hill)
CDC director says US should brace for second wave of coronavirus to hit next year ( The New York Post)
The U.S. May Be Heading To A Second (Or Even Fourth) Wave Of The Coronavirus Epidemic. Here's What That Means ( Forbes)
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I am a Texas native covering breaking news out of New York City. Previously, I was a Forbes intern in London. I am an alum of City, University of London and Texas State
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