We must stop acting like the pandemic is over
Last week’s milestone of 300 COVID-19 deaths in Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties was cause for sorrow and anger.
We never lose sight of the fact that every death we report is about a person who suffered and died. Every one is about a family who grieves.
So it continues to puzzle and anger us that more people do not take COVID -19 seriously.
Too many continue to resist vaccinations for nonsense reasons. The region continues to lag behind the state average in people taking a simple, free step to protect themselves and others.
According to state Department of Health statistics as of Dec. 29, 57 percent of Delaware County residents had received at least one vaccine dose. Schoharie County was in the same range with 59.7 percent. Chenango County was slightly better at 63 percent, and Otsego County was at 64.8 percent.
Add to that the predictable post-thanksgiving surge that has new cases coming in record numbers. Not to mention the post-christmas surge we’ll be hearing about any day, now, and the post-new Year’s Eve surge that will really be just a continuation of its predecessors.
Those surges did not have to happen. People simply do not care enough to take the simple steps to prevent them until they are affected directly.
Health officials — the people who actually know what they are talking about — are doing their best to change the situation. The state Department of Health is deploying assets to the area to support our local health departments.
We urge readers to get tested before attending any gatherings or if they have reason to believe they may have been exposed to a COVID carrier. Early detection can help us halt the spread.
Of course, the simple steps promoted at the beginning of the pandemic are still effective.
Keep social distance. Wash your hands well. Use hand sanitizer.
And wear a mask. Despite what rabble-rousing hucksters and political opportunists say — and ill-informed people repeat — they will help contain the virus.
The fact that our hospitals are once again overwhelmed with COVID patients and elective surgeries are no longer possible should be a wake-up call.
COVID -19 does not care if we are tired of taking steps to prevent it. It will seize any opportunity to spread and it won’t care what you think about that.