Fears of second coronavirus wave in US as cases rise in 20 states

America's top infectious disease expert has given a new warning about the threat of a second wave of infections as a study showed 20 states have seen a rise in cases in the past week.

States that were quick to emerge from lockdown have seen some of the biggest jumps, including Georgia, where cases rose by 21 per cent last week.

Alabama had the biggest weekly increase at 28 per cent, while Missouri’s new cases rose by 27 per cent and North Carolina’s by 26 per cent, according to an analysis by Reuters.

Several states attribute the rises to increased testing, but public health experts are warning that the country could be facing more bleak months after it passed the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from Covid-19.

Dr Anthony Fauci, a key figure on the White House’s coronavirus task force, spoke out about the danger posed by people flouting social distancing rules last night after footage showing Memorial Day crowds gathered at a pool party in Missouri.

“We have a situation in which you see that type of crowding with no mask and people interacting. That’s not prudent and that’s inviting a situation that could get out of control. Don’t start leapfrogging recommendations in the guidelines because that’s really tempting fate,” he said.

Josh Michaud, an associate director at the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington, said: “Despite the terrible losses Americans have faced to date in this pandemic, we’re still probably only in the early stages. We could be looking at a long pandemic summer with a slow burn of cases and deaths. There’s also reason to be concerned about a new wave of infections in the fall.”

A model cited by the White House this week predicted that the US will see nearly 132,000 deaths from Covid-19 by August, 9,000 fewer than it was forecasting the previous week.

To mark the 100,000 death toll, Joe Biden released a video in which he told the bereaved: “This nation grieves with you.”

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee evoked his own personal tragedies,saying: “I think I know what you’re feeling. You feel like you’re being sucked into a black hole in the middle of your chest. It’s suffocating.” Mr Biden lost his first wife and young daughter in a 1972 car crash and an adult son to cancer in 2015.

Mr Biden’s compassionate display contrasted with President Donald Trump, who critics say has shown little empathy, and as of this morning had made only passing acknowledgement of the pandemic’s death toll.

However the White House said: “President Trump’s prayers for comfort and strength are with all of those grieving the loss of a loved one or friend as a result of this unprecedented plague.”

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