Letters | As coronavirus second wave looms, Americans are still putting lives in danger

People currently seem to believe that Covid-19 is over just because of cases dropping over these past months. As a teen residing in New York City, I have seen the horrors of what the coronavirus disease can bring. My borough, Queens, was one of the worst affected neighbourhoods in this pandemic.

As Covid-19 infection has slowed down compared with several months ago, people think it is okay to go outside without wearing masks or ensuring social distance from one another. This will cause a spike in cases again. As more people take fewer precautions and refuse to practise social distancing, there will be a higher risk for the rest of us.

Your report quoted the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention as saying: “CDC continues to recommend the use of masks, frequent handwashing, and maintenance of social distancing to prevent Covid-19.” Public health officials advise people to make such behaviour a habit to slow the spread of the virus.

New York has seen the number of cases rise in recent days. It is very likely that there will be a second wave in the city and the people who are not abiding by the rules are not helping at all. People should be more aware of the dangers of the virus and be considerate of those who also live here, especially the elderly.

Grace Zhu, New York