Summer COVID Cases on the Rise

posted on Monday, August 5, 2024

This summer has witnessed a notable increase in COVID-19 cases throughout the United States with most state reaching "high" or "very high" levels. Several factors have contributed to this surge, including the emergence of new variants, increased transmissibility, and changes in public health policies and behaviors.
 

Why the surge of cases?

This 2024 summer surge can be attributed to the following areas:

• New, more powerful variants: Recent months have seen the identification of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Notable among these are the XBB.1.16 and BA.2.86.
• Increased transmissibility: With these new variants comes an enhanced ability to spread the virus, particularly in crowded and indoor environments.
• Public behavior and policy inconsistency: Summer months cause an increase in travel. Variability in policies between regions with the easing of restrictions has led to an uneven control of the virus.
   

Preventative Measures and Recommendations:

To address the surge and prepare for the coming fall months, the CDC recommends several strategies.

• Vaccines: Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines to help lower the risk of getting very sick, being hospitalized, or dying from the virus.
• Practice good hygiene: Covering your coughs and sneezes, washing your hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
• Cleaner air policy: This can mean bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors. Virus particles do not build up in the air outdoors as much as they do indoors.
   

What to do when you are sick.

• Use precautions: Prevent the spread by staying home and away from others if you have any respiratory symptoms.
• Seek health care: Promptly seek health care for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness.
• Learn when you can return: Normal activities may be resumed when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
  • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
  • You have not had a fever (without fever-reducing medications)
     

Staying Positive 

Research shows through consistency of the above preventative measures and recommendations, we can see a decline in cases before the fall.
 

Let's Continue to Work Together 

We thank you, our staff, and their families for the continued efforts in slowing the spread of this virus.