Battling a COVID-19 resurgence

The COVID-19 pandemic remains, pervading the tense, difficult presidential election campaign just ended.

Eight months after it began, the COVID-19 pandemic remains, pervading the tense and difficult presidential election campaign just ended.

In recent weeks, the nation’s angst and attention was focused on the election with the virus stealthily creeping along, taking advantage of the distraction and isolation fatigue many people were experiencing after months of stay-home orders and shutdowns.

The change in seasons forced people inside, reducing the option of outdoor dining and gatherings that are less conducive to virus spread than indoor closed contact.

Now, the spread of COVID-19 has surged, creating risk and a severe public health threat in this region and throughout the state.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Thursday confirmed 2,900 new positive cases of COVID-19, the highest daily total since the pandemic began. There were 47 deaths reported, bringing the toll in the state to 8,937.

Another report last week showed that every county in this region is experiencing more cases and higher positivity rates.

For the period Oct. 23 to Oct. 29, Berks County recorded the highest positivity rate in the seven-county region, at 9.3%, up from 6.6% recorded during the period Oct. 16 to Oct. 22, according to the state’s COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard.

Chester County went from 3.3% to 4.4 %; Delaware County was at 6.9%. State officials said Berks, Delaware, Philadelphia and Lehigh counties showed “concerning” positivity rates.

In Montgomery County, Commissioners Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh painted a worrisome picture at a briefing on Wednesday. She noted the 14day positivity rate, as of Oct. 30, was 4.39%, up from 3.16%. The county was above 5% on four days in that time period with 5% being the marker between control and community spread.

“The virus is affecting people of all ages all across our county. We’re seeing increases in almost every single community,” Arkoosh said. “Of note this week, is that individuals 55 to 64 years of age are experiencing an increasing share of cases for the first time since April.”

She said hospitalizations are also increasing, and more people are becoming seriously ill and requiring ventilators. “As a reminder, both hospitalizations and deaths lag behind cases,” said Arkoosh, who as a physician has been at the forefront of the county’s efforts to combat COVID. “We are already starting to see a rapid increase in hospitalizations.”

The fall resurgence is not a factor of the environment: The problem is that more people are getting together for indoor social gatherings and sports, both indoors and outdoors, without following guidelines for social distance and masks.

“Social gatherings, sports and recreational activities continue to be our biggest sources of spread,” Arkoosh said. She cited an example of an outbreak that began with three adult ice hockey teams that played at the Hatfield Ice Arena or at Oaks Center Ice.

“There are now 17 positive individuals from three different teams. Some of the positive individuals coached other teams where there are now at least six additional positive individuals across five different junior teams and those cases are still being investigated and there may be more positive cases,” Arkoosh explained.

“As a result of the 23 positive cases from these eight teams, 73 close contacts are now in quarantine. A common thread among all of these positive cases is the lack of mask wearing and social distancing, particularly on the bench,” Arkoosh added.

Eight months since this pandemic reached Pennsylvania, people have grown weary of missing social activities, of postponing celebrations, canceling outings, and working or learning from home. Humans are social beings, and isolation is unnatural and difficult.

But also tiresome is the failure of many to follow the guidelines we have known since March that are successful in mitigating virus spread. As we’ve endured hardship, we’ve also witnessed that our choices in habit can make a difference: Wear a mask, socially distance, wash hands frequently and avoid large gatherings.

The virus is not going to just leave. Rather, we must learn to live with it while protecting ourselves and those around us. Following the rules is not that hard. Witnessing what can happen if we don’t is tragic.