Orthopedic surgeon Asheesh Bedi, MD, said that a second COVID-19 wave in the fall would be "incredibly devastating" for the economy, as well as the country's sports seasons, Detroit Free Press reports.
Dr. Bedi, team physician for the Detroit Lions, told The Adam Schefter Podcast that the country's behavior in the coming months will have a "critical influence on what we're seeing" in the fall.
The NFL on May 15 gave the green light for franchises to reopen facilities, but several have remained closed due to stay-at-home orders.
Safety measures such as hand-washing, social distancing and the use of masks will be pivotal in avoiding a second COVID-19 peak, Dr. Bedi said on the podcast.
If a second peak does occur, he highlighted the need to "pivot quickly" to protect the economy and the return to professional sports, although healthcare professionals are still trying to decipher how to proceed through this "uncharted territory."