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‘Sooner than later’: Fears of a second wave as Americans ignore social distancing

Doctors are concerned the US could be seeing a deadly second wave of coronavirus “sooner rather than later” after crowds were seen violating social distancing rules while celebrating Memorial Day.

Americans excited about what for many was their first big break from coronavirus shutdowns flocked to beaches, outdoor areas, bars and pools over the long weekend.

However, startling images show not all appeared to be keeping a safe 1.8m social distance. Others could be seen foregoing a mask.

People walk and sit on the beach at Coney Island as coronavirus restrictions ease. Source: Getty
Americans excited about what for many was their first big break from coronavirus shutdowns flocked to beaches and outdoor areas. Source: Getty

With the US surpassing 100,000 deaths on Wednesday (Australian time), according to WorldMeters, some health professionals are worried the grim milestone could only be the beginning.

"We are going to see another surge and we're going to see that surge sooner than later if people do not maintain the appropriate public health guidance," Dr Rachel Rubin, with the Cook County Health Department, told ABC7 Chicago.

Dr Emily Landon with the University of Chicago Medicine told the publication the buzz of activity is essentially just “moving the virus around the country”.

Large crowd appear to ignore distancing rules while standing in front of a restaurant on the boardwalk at Coney Island. Source: Getty Images
With the US surpassing 100,000 deaths on Wednesday, some health professionals are worried the grim milestone could only be the beginning. Source: Getty Images

"The more we think it's OK for us to go to other cities and states, the more people from other states think it's going to be good to come to us," she said.

"Nothing has changed about the virus in the time that we've been spending at home.

“What is supposed to change is us, we are supposed to figure out how to exist with the virus."

Pool party sparks cluster

A restaurant copped a wave of backlash after hosting a crowded pool party soon after another pool party in a nearby state sparked a coronavirus cluster.

Video footage filmed on Saturday shows hundreds of people drinking and swimming at Backwater Jacks Bar & Grill at Osage Beach in Missouri while disregarding social distancing rules, St Louis station KMOV-TV reported.

Families gathered together at Lake Monroe on Memorial Day amid COVID-19 pandemic. Source: Getty
Fairfax Beach at Lake Monroe was busy on the Memorial Day amid COVID-19 pandemic. Source: Getty

The venue advertised the ‘Zero Ducks Given Pool Party’ on Facebook prior to the event, naming the featured DJs and claiming “extra precautions and safety measures” were taken to provide a safe environment.

Earlier several people who attended a high school pool party in close-by Arkansas tested positive for COVID-19.

"A high school swim party that I'm sure everybody thought was harmless. They're young, they're swimming, they're just having activity and positive cases resulted from that," the state’s Governor Asa Hutchinson told CNN.

The governor told the publication Arkansas is now going through a “second peak”.

with Reuters.

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