EDITORIALS Cautious optimism

Covid number show how it lingers

The numbers are starting to holler for attention again.

You know, the covid numbers. The ones we all had hoped we could ignore at least through the summer, if not from now on.

The reporting in this paper on Friday put the numbers into context: The rise in the state’s coronavirus cases on Thursday was the largest in a single day since Feb. 15, which was during Arkansas’ first wave of infections from the omicron variant.

The case count across the state’s 75 counties totaled more than 9,000 for the first time since February. On Thursday, the count rose by 1,434. Washington County and Benton County were second and third in the ranking of counties with the most cases, with 127 and 97, respectively.

The good news is a lot of Arkansans have embraced covid vaccines and have received the recommended booster shots. That’s no guarantee against catching it — although it raises the odds against infection quite significantly — and if a vaccinated person does get covid, the odds again are smaller still that the disease will turn into something that threatens that person’s life.

The uptick is not a reason to freak out. Only three counties — Baxter, Ashley and Chicot — were listed by the CDC as having “high” levels of covid-19. As far as the most populous counties in Northwest Arkansas, Benton, Washington and Sebastian all remain in the “low” level.

In those low-level areas, medical authorities really don’t make any suggestions as far as wearing masks, but anecdotally, we’ve noticed more and more people who engage with larger numbers of people — such as retail and restaurant workers — taking the precaution of wearing them. The uptick in numbers statewide suggest that’s a wise choice. Vaccinations are a smart option, too.

Covid remains a potential killer, on a case-by-case basis. And it’s hard to predict whose body it will attack with a vengeance. People with compromised immune systems are certainly at risk, but how many of us have known people who seemed otherwise a picture of health whose lives were ended or, perhaps, turned upside down by the virus’ effects?

The nation, state and our local communities are better prepared for covid-19 than ever. So, no, we shouldn’t get back into shutdowns or remote schooling that threaten their own longterm harmful effects. We also cannot pretend covid-19 is gone or that we can just live our lives without remaining vigilant.

Be aware of the symptoms. Be prepared for testing if you start to feel poorly. Be ready to distance yourself from loved ones if you come down with it. Don’t be responsible for passing it to others, particularly the elderly or people whose bodies cannot fight off disease as aggressively as a healthy body.

Get vaccinated or boosted. Let’s not give this thing another foothold.