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N ot a m e m b e r ? J o i n at a s so c iate d h a i rp rofe s sio n a ls .c o m 23 ask dr. tessa Question: With cases appearing to be on the rise again, should I be preparing to close my business again and how can I best prepare my clients for a possible closure? Dr. Tessa: As an epidemiologist, I believe we should all prepare for the possibility of business closures this fall and winter. Cases are on the rise in the US and many communities are rethinking their reopening plans. 1 Some scientists fear we are seeing a second wave of COVID-19 infections that are occurring after the easing of restrictions on businesses and society. On June 16, 2020, NIAID Director Anthony Fauci suggested we may still be in the first wave of infections, a resurgence of infections that only dipped slightly after restrictive social closures. Whether this is a first or second wave, winter is coming and we should be prepared for the possibilities of closures. Many epidemiologists look to the 1918 influenza pandemic for potential clues on how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may play out. There were at least three distinct waves of influenza in 1918 through 1919, which is estimated to have killed 50,000–100,000 million people worldwide. 2 The first wave began in March 1918 and eased over the summer. That summer, the population quickly returned to "life as normal," which led to a spike of cases in many cities. The second wave came in the fall, followed by a deadly third wave during winter 1919 and spring 1920. The influenza virus is different from SARS-CoV-2 in that it's less transmissible in the summer months; SARS- CoV-2 does not appear to have a significant seasonal aspect. However, in the summer months, we are spending more time socializing outdoors, school is not in session, and it is easier to practice social distancing. Epidemiologists fear that come winter, socializing patterns will move indoors, and the holidays will bring together multiple generations for many high-risk interactions. Parents of young children hope school can The Next Spike As COVID cases rise, what's next? AHP Can Help Times are tough, and it doesn't look like the fall and winter are going to be much better. Associated Hair Professionals is here to help you keep your business going. Visit associatedhairprofessionals.com for COVID-19 updates, more answers from Dr. Tessa, our Back-to-Practice Guide for hairstyles, and so much more. resume in person in the fall and continue through winter; however, we need to be prepared for the scenario of school closures and virtual/home school. School and childcare closures will place enormous hardship on parents who cannot work from home. In preparation for potential closures, evaluate how you dealt with the closures in March; what services were you able to provide while you weren't able to see your clients face to face? I am certainly not an expert on hair services, but I have heard about providers putting together nicely assembled products in pretty bags and conducting remote training online. Start asking your regular clients how they would like to be supported if there were to be closures again and consider options for alternative provision of services. Notes 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COV ID-19), Cases and Deaths in the U.S.," accessed August 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ cases-updates/us-cases-deaths.html. 2. National Public Radio, "The 1918 Flu Pandemic Was Brutal, Killing More Than 50 Million People Worldwide," accessed August 2020, www.npr.org/2020/04/02/826358104/ the-1918-flu-pandemic-was-brutal-killing-as- many-as-100-million-people-worldwide.