NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — In recent days, the coronavirus has impacted not only the Tennessee Titans, and the highest office in the land, but also an increasing number of Tennesseans, including almost 2,500 new cases in the last 24 hours.
So could this be the second wave doctors warned about early on?
Doctors say more time, plus a look at where sustained COVID-19 case increases are coming from could reveal whether this is the beginning of that second wave.
But doctors say an important trend is still looking good — Tennessee’s hospitalization rates are still going down. If that changes, doctors say it made indicate the second wave.
"So far the number of patients statewide that continue to be hospitalized with COVID-19 continues to decline, which I think is really important," said Dr. David Aronoff with Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "If that were to turn around and we started to see increases in hospitalization, and an increase in the number of daily new cases, that would be concerning that we may be heading up toward another wave."
But while doctors had predicted a second wave, they say one is not guaranteed, if people continue to wear masks, wash their hands, and remain socially distant.
"Those activities are really continuing to protect the vulnerable people in the state of Tennessee who have yet to be infected with this virus," Aronoff said.
