Coronavirus update: WHO warns of chance of ‘second or third wave’ – how infection spreads

Coronavirus is evidently highly contagious. The “R” (rate of infection) is now below one. What does this mean? And what happens if it goes above one?

Boris returned to Downing Street’s briefing following his brush with the notorious virus and the birth of his new baby boy.

It was on Thursday April 30 that the Prime Minister announced Britain had moved past the “peak” of infections.

With the (R) rate of infections now below one, an informative video showed the public what this means.

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In essence, with every 100 people now infected with the coronavirus, it will spread to less than 100 people and so forth.

This continuous downfall of infections spreading throughout the community results in less infections.

The current rate of infection is indicated to be between 0.6 and 0.9.

However, should the rate of infection pass one, this would be disastrous.

With an infection rate of more than one, this means that with every 100 people infected, more than 100 others would be infected too.

And with the number of infections escalating in such a way, so many more lives would be lost.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) have said: “COVID-19 [coronavirus] is not going away any time soon.”

And that countries around the world must be prepared for a “second or third wave” of coronavirus infections.

The WHO adds: “The key issue is to be prepared whether it is for a second wave or another outbreak of another future infectious agent.”

How do infections spread?

The WHO confirm that “the disease can spread from person to person”.

This is through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are spread when a person with the infection coughs or exhales.

Usually, throughout everyday life, an infected person – if out and about – would be able to pass the illness on to lots of other people just by walking past.

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This is why social distancing is paramount in reducing the rate of infections.

Keeping at least two metres away from others and encouraging the public to stay at home decreased the chances for the illness to spread.

Although the peak has now passed, social distancing measures are still in place with the aim of reducing the number of infections even further.

If Britons were to resume to their normal lives, and increase how many people they spend time with, coronavirus could very easily become rampant again.

The virus isn’t only passed on from one infected person to another.

It can also remain on touched surfaces, such as handrails on escalators, benches and shop doors.

Britain’s lockdown measures have dramatically decreased the number of people touching everyday objects just by limiting Briton’s daily activities.

With lockdown measures easing around the world, scientists are keeping a close eye on that infection rate – just in case the world needs to hide behind closed doors again.

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