Must still take care to prevent virus spread

It’s always encouraging to see progress made in the quest to eradicate COVID-19. At the same time, though, it’s important not to get too comfortable and remember that risks posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic are still a legitimate threat.

We were reminded of the need for continued vigilance after a recent News-Herald story providing an update on COVID-19 in Lake County.

After 10 consecutive weeks of declining cases, Lake County saw its first weekly increase since January.

Between March 23 and March 30, there were 208 newly reported COVID-19 cases in Lake County, up from 160 the week prior, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That’s the first increase in weekly reported cases since there were 1,146 reported between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, up from 1,045 the week prior.

As of 2 p.m., March 30, Lake County had 19,199 cumulative COVID-19 cases, 750 cumulative hospitalizations and 354 cumulative deaths. ODH presumes 18,310 Lake County residents have recovered from COVID-19. ODH defines presumed recovered as those with a symptom onset date greater than 21 days prior who are not deceased.

Though vaccinations continue and newly reported cases are significantly lower than they were at the peak, top U.S. officials March 29 asked elected officials, community leaders and everyday Americans to maintain social distancing measures and mask wearing.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, said moves to ease restrictions were premature, according to the Associated Press.

Nationwide, COVID-19 cases were up about 10 percent over the past week from the previous week and hospitalizations and deaths also ticked up, according to the Associated Press.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky pointed to an increase in travel and loosening virus restrictions for the increase in cases.

“People want to be done with this. I, too, want to be done with this,” she said, according to the Associated Press. “We’ve seen surges after every single holiday. Please limit travel to essential travel for the time being.”

Time will tell if another COVID-19 surge occurs after April 4 — Easter Sunday — when many Americans participate in large-group gatherings, and mingle with an assortment of people outside of their households, at worship services and/or dinners with relatives.

It also will be interesting to track COVID-19 case trends this summer, as many community events will resume after being canceled or scaled back in 2020 because of pandemicrelated concerns.

For example, the city of Mentor recently announced the 2021 schedule for the popular Mentor Rocks summer concert series.

The series, presented by Lake Health, will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesdays, at the Mentor Civic Amphitheater.

It will run 14 weeks this year, from June 1 through Aug. 31.

Last year, the series had been slated to start June 2, but was postponed until June 30 out of regard for safety because of COVID-19 risks. Eventually, Mentor Rocks was allowed to get underway after the city received the Lake County General Health District’s approval of its operations plan.

However, after three performances, the city decided to suspend the concert series because of a sustained rise in the number cases in the county and surrounding areas.

This year, in planning a full season for the concert series, the city announced that social-distancing among nonhousehold members and other health and safety protocols will be practiced on the amphitheater grounds this summer.

The concerts are being conducted in accordance with procedures and protocol reviewed and approved by the county General Health District and are subject to change.

And one never knows how or when things might change when it comes to COVID-19. For now, we encourage everyone to still take precautionary measures, and heed the advice of public health officials to avoid becoming another statistic in the novel coronavirus pandemic.

For now, we encourage everyone to still take precautionary measures, and heed the advice of public health officials ...