Editorial: Current COVID spike a testament to its staying power

It may be flying under personal radars, but COVID-19 has continued to be a blip on that screen.

Cases of the virus have been spiking nationally and in Massachusetts this summer, as the current numbers show.

According to Mass.gov, from Aug. 4 through Aug. 10, there were 2,218 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 700 probable COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts. There were also 17 confirmed and probable deaths from COVID-19 during that same week.

However, during the week of July 28 through Aug. 3, there were 3,083 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, with 15 confirmed and probable deaths.

Even though there were fewer reported cases last week, there was a slight increase in the number of deaths related to COVID-19.

Nationwide, as of Aug. 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that COVID-19 infections continued to grow or were likely growing in 25 states, declining or likely declining in five states, and stable or uncertain in 17 states.

In New England, Massachusetts and Vermont account for two of those 25 growing states.

One of the state’s main medical systems has reacted to this COVID rise by reinstituting mask mandates.

Baystate Health, a nonprofit integrated health-care system headquartered in Springfield primarily serving Western Massachusetts, announced on Monday that masks will be required due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.

Baystate decided to move to its “yellow tier” due to a steady trend of increasing COVID-19 cases based on community testing and wastewater surveillance data.

Since Baystate Health expects this trend to continue, masks will be required for direct patient care at all affiliated hospitals and the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care.

Care partners and other visitors over 5 years old will also be required to wear a mask. Masking is also recommended in other ambulatory settings, such as Baystate Medical Practices offices, and non-patient care locations.

Other medical systems across the state will likely follow suit if this trend persists.

So, why would COVID-19 be spiking now?

This increase follows a familiar pattern.

Every summer since 2020, COVID-19 rates have risen in July and August, due to multiple disease-causing, behavioral, and environmental factors, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

By mid-to-late summer, many people’s immunity has waned considerably. That, combined with the new transmissible variants, makes the chance of infection more likely.

A new booster shot reportedly will be available sometime in the fall, but COVID’s already increased presence beat that therapy to the punch.

And as the summer temperatures rise, we’ve spent more time in air-conditioned indoor spaces, where most virus transmission occurs. With the windows closed to keep the cool air inside, that restricted ventilation curtails air circulation, which would otherwise reduce the virus’ spread.

Summer is also a time for travel and vacations, which exposes individuals to more people, who might be more likely to write off mild symptoms as the result of jet lag.

Tiredness, headache, and a sore throat are all common after a long flight, but they’re also symptoms of COVID-19, and without testing, travelers may unknowingly expose others.

The summer vacation season may be coming to a close, but that portends the start of a new school year, which could lead to another spike when students return to the classroom.

So, while we may all have become resigned to COVID’s continued presence, it’s no time to become complacent.

If you don’t feel well, take a COVID-19 test, so you can decide whether to seek treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness. Knowing you’re infected will reduce the chances of spreading the virus to others.

In addition to rapid antigen at-home tests that can be purchased at your local pharmacy, retail stores, or online, PCR tests can be administered by a medical provider in retail pharmacies, urgent care centers, community health centers, and primary-care offices.

If you test positive for COVID-19, there are a few things you can do to keep yourself and others safe, like self-isolating.

Stay home away from others to reduce COVID’s spread. The CDC recommends doing so for five days. If you have no symptoms after those five days, you may gradually resume normal activity.

You should, however, continue to isolate until you are fever-free for 24 hours without taking any fever-reducing medications.

Some other safety tips include:

• Wearing a mask around others for at least five days;

• Washing your hands often;

• Avoiding crowded indoor spaces;

• Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

We’ve all gone over this ground before, even since this coronavirus’ initial, lethal spread back in the spring of 2020.

And while we’ve all acquired some degree of herd immunity since then, we can’t discount the possibility of contracting COVID’s latest strain.