Coronavirus DK: Second wave or paranoid gossip?

There have been several local outbreaks of the coronavirus in the past couple of weeks since restrictions have been relaxed. More than 40 people at the Vendelbocentret nursing home in northern Jutland were infected. Entire school classes and their teachers have been quarantined, and half of the people who attended a large party at a restaurant in northern Zealand have tested positive. Is this the start of the second wave?

Most researchers and officials say no (DK). The number of new cases per day has been in the double digits for six weeks, usually below 50. That’s far below the peak of 473 on April 3. “As long as the virus isn’t eradicated, we must get used to these small outbreaks,” says Jan Pravsgaard Christensen, Professor of Immunology at University of Copenhagen. “Apart from the concentrated outbreaks, there are only minor instances.”

Mantra: Test, trace and isolate

“The problem with such infections is that if you don’t do anything, they have exponential growth,” says Claus Thorn Ekstrøm, Professor of Biostatistics at University of Copenhagen. The key is to trace contacts and break the chain of infection. Danes have behaved well, but we must not let ourselves be lulled to sleep before the “last, difficult mile,” says Thea Kølsen Fischer, head of research at North Zealand Hospital, who notes that a second wave arose in South Korea at a nightclub one weekend in May.

Known unknowns and unknown unknowns

The researchers warn that the summer season brings unknown factors that can increase infections: the heat, more socializing and drinking, tourists from abroad. “A superspreader may be someone who sheds a large volume of the virus or someone who speaks with many people,” continues Christensen. “No one knows for certain yet.”

Pandemic rumors

The researchers’ optimism may not give much comfort to some of the employees of Vendelbocentret, who have been subject to behavior "bordering on  harassment" (DK). One was told to leave a supermarket, and the husband of another was sent home from work. “We are both angry and disappointed that our employees are getting such bad treatment,” says Arne Boelt, Mayor of Hjørring Municipality, who notes that the staff are working under difficult conditions and taking many precautions. 

When people are insecure, they begin to seek information, says Michael Bang Petersen, Professor of Infection Psychology at Aarhus University, “and we know that they also have a tendency to get carried away with rumors.” The best protection against corona gossip, Bang Petersen advises, is for the authorities to give out as much information as possible.

Local suppression strategy

Since the outbreak, the municipality, which has also identified outbreaks at schools and mink farms, has taken intensive measures to contain the virus (DK). Nursing home employees work in heavy protective outfits. Some 20 medical students have been trained to conduct tests and have been sent to visit 3,000 elderly people who live at home. The municipality wants to test as many as possible twice, so the project will take two or three weeks to complete.