Coronavirus ‘coming as one big wave’ not seasonally like flu, WHO warn as cases spike again across Europe

THE coronavirus pandemic is not like the seasonal flu and is coming in “one big wave” the World Health Organisation has said.

The global health body’s warning comes amid fears of a second wave in Europe with Brits returning from Spain forced into quarantine.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

Holiday plans for millions were thrown into chaos after an effective travel ban was slapped on Spain over the weekend due to a spike in coronavirus cases.

The WHO summer said Covid-19 did not behave like influenza, which tended to follow seasonal trends.

Margaret Harris, from the WHO, said some of the hardest-hit countries are currently in the midst of different season.

"People are still thinking about seasons,” she said.

“What we all need to get our heads around is this is a new virus and this one is behaving differently."

It is summer in the worst affected country United States by thecoronavirus, which with nearly 151,500 deaths and close to 4.5 million cases.

But the most affected country Brazil, where there have been nearly 88,000 deaths, is in winter.

"It's going to be one big wave. It's going to go up and down a bit. The best thing is to flatten it and turn it into just something lapping at your feet," said Harris.

Boris Johnson said today that there were signs of a second wave of coronavirus in Europe as he defended the Government's decision to impose a 14-day quarantine restriction on those returning from Spain.

He said: "What we have to do is take swift and decisive action where we think that the risks are starting to bubble up again.

"Let's be absolutely clear about what's happening in Europe, amongst some of our European friends, I'm afraid you are starting to see in some places the signs of a second wave of the pandemic."

Barcelona and the whole of Catalonia is facing a return to total lockdown as cases continue to spike, the regions president has warned.

The head of Germanys national disease control centre also warned of “really, really worrying" developments over the last two weeks amid a resurgence of virus outbreaks.

Robert Koch Institute chief Lothar Wieler pointed to a lot of small outbreaks in various places at the same time that are becoming more frequent.

Wieler urged his country's citizens not to let their guard down and to stick to social distancing, hygiene and mask-wearing rules that must never be questioned.

“We dont know if this is the beginning of a second wave, but of course it could be. It would begin with rising figures," Wieler said.

"If we all keep to these rules, I am still optimistic that we can prevent this.”

Source: Read Full Article