OPINION Let’s get Pa. back on track in virus fight

The state was on a positive trend until recently when cases surged again, prompting new restrictions.

We were doing so well.

It was just a month ago on June 17 that Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Pennsylvania was one of three states recognized by the Centers for Disease Control – the other two were Hawaii and Montana – for having a consistent downward trajectory of COVID-19 data for 42 days.

It seemed that the mitigation measures put in place in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus were working. The inconveniences and financial blows being endured by families and businesses were for the good of public health, and the pain seemed to be paying off.

The reward was a gradual color-phased reopening combined with widespread testing that aimed to continue control of the disease spread — a necessary goal as we head toward fall and schools reopening.

That positive trend, however, turned in the wrong direction. As of Saturday, the state Department of Health confirmed the state crossed the 100,000 threshold of cases of COVID-19 as 763 new cases brought the statewide total to 100,241. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

The deaths also crossed a threshold, surpassing 7,000 with a total of 7,007.

The state health department data for Saturday showed 4,798 cases in Berks; 9,091cases in Montgomery; 4,245 cases in Chester County, and 7,815 cases in Delaware County.

The alarming rise in new cases — just two weeks after all counties entered the green phase permitting bars and restaurants to resume table service — caused the governor to re-impose restrictions last week.

“Medical experts looking at our current trajectory are projecting that a new surge is in the offing. And what we’re seeing right now could soon be even worse than what we saw before,” said Wolf on Wednesday.

Wolf says three catalysts have been linked to case increases: some Pennsylvanians ignoring the mask wearing requirements and social distancing rules when they’re visiting bars and restaurants, out of state travel and a lack of national coordination.

In Montgomery County, county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh revealed that county residents were also flouting the process of contact tracing put in place to identify and head off spread of the virus when an infected person comes in contact with others.

She said that a Montgomery County youth sports league coach who had COVID-19 attended a Fourth of July party, potentially putting others at risk for the virus. And, a graduation party in the county was attended by more than 100 people, many of whom didn’t practice social distancing or wear masks, and several positive cases of the virus were identified as potentially being linked to the gathering.

Even more troubling was that the individuals at the gatherings did not fully cooperate with contact tracers who sought to notify those exposed to infection, Arkoosh said during a news briefing last week.

When people are unwilling to give contact tracers the names of people at a gathering where an infected person has been identified, the process breaks down. And that is how spread occurs, she said.

State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine on Wednesday urged Pennsylvanians to “renew our commitment to protecting against COVID-19 by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and following the requirements set forth in the orders for bars and restaurants, gatherings and telework.

“Pennsylvania has been a model for the country on how to reopen effectively using a careful, measured approach. However, we know the virus has not gone away as we see cases rise, so we must work together to stop another surge.”

Nationally, debate about the value of mask-wearing goes on, even among health officials, but in Pennsylvania, there has been evidence that masks, social distancing, widespread testing and quarantine for those who test positive works. We were doing well: The spread of the disease was being controlled.

The restart now requires even more discipline: always wear a mask when out in public, avoid crowds, social distance, and stay home as much as possible.

Schools are crafting plans to reopen — an important step for children to resume learning and parents to get back to work — but that can only happen safely if we control coronavirus in our communities.

It’s up to individuals to do their part to flatten the curve, slow the spread, and reopen Pennsylvania safely and for good.