Should You Be Worried That COVID-19 Is On The Rise Again?
Despite various protection tactics taken by many, such as getting vaccinated, boosted, keeping a safe distance from others, and masking, we are currently seeing a significant rise in COVID-19 cases. In recent weeks, there have been three times as many COVID cases, as well as a 25% uptick in hospitalizations, per WebMD.
It remains to be seen how large of a surge this new wave of COVID cases will cause, but it is thought that areas with less immunity may be hit the hardest. "In the U.S., there are communities that have had less exposure to this virus, and so (they will) likely have a large impact from the virus in the next few weeks and months," Julie Swann, professor and public health researcher at North Carolina State University, explained to USA Today.
As the pandemic continues to ebb and flow, this newest surge in cases has many wondering how best to handle it and if they should be concerned about their health and safety.
What to do about the rise in COVID-19 cases
Even though we are seeing a significant rise in COVID cases, experts think that this new surge won't be as severe as past waves, per WebMD. Cases, hospitalizations, and potential deaths may be increasing, but if you contract COVID, it will more than likely be very mild if you are vaccinated and boosted. "This is probably more because we as a population are building up the immunity, not because the variants are necessarily getting milder on their own," Dr. David Dowdy of Johns Hopkins University explained to WebMD. "What this means is that for people who are still unvaccinated, don't have that immunity built up, or who have weakened immune systems, this virus is still a very dangerous and deadly one."
While we don't know whether or not this newest surge will grow as the summer and fall months commence, experts say that the best way to protect yourself is to ensure you are vaccinated and boosted. Take measures to protect the health of those in your life who may be high risk or immunocompromised, per USA Today.