COVID mounts unforeseen summer surge
Officials have noted an unexpected spike in COVID cases in Western North Carolina. Stock photo
After a spring lull, the coronavirus has returned with a vengenance, leading to a surge in Western North Carolina that experts didn’t expect.
During one of his YouTube videos updating people in the region about the status of COVID and other contagious viruses, Haywood County Medical Director Dr. Mark Jaben said that officials were hopeful in the spring of a possibly mild summer when it comes to COVID cases. “We had three months this spring with very few cases and very few hospitalizations,” he said.
After a brief uptick in mid-June, cases really picked up in the last month or so. This is abnormal for this time of year. Each summer since the pandemic began has seen a smaller wave than the corresponding winter, and each summer’s wave had been smaller than the previous summer. That is not the case this year, as Jaben said that the wave is about the same size as the one the region saw during the winter and certainly more than any other summer.
In addition, hospitalizations are now about to the same level as the winter, with most folks who are admitted between the ages of 40 and 90. Jaben did note that there has not been a corresponding increase in deaths, and as far as he knows, hospitals have handled the increase in COVID patients well.
While experts didn’t exactly expect this big of a wave, Jaben had a few theories as to why we’re seeing the current surge. First, with summer comes not only more vacation travel, but also more events where people are inside where there’s air conditioning — and more people. It’s known at this point that the virus spreads better indoors, especially if there’s poor ventilation.
“Be careful going into crowded spaces,” Jaben said, adding that properly wearing a mask — especiall an N-95 or KN-95 — is best when in doubt, especially as it further protects people who are immunocompromised and thus susceptible to more serious infection.
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In addition, Jaben said that the “immune wall” from prior infections and vaccinations is likely wearing off, and to make matters worse, less than 20% of people are up to date on their vaccinations. Making matters evenworse, the virus has continued to mutate, and the latest variant is better able to avoid the body’s immune defenses.
Jaben recommended a few things. First, for those who haven’t received the vaccine or the latest booster, it’s not too late — better late than never. Also, Jaben offered a reminder that the latest booster should be available within a month or so, and those who are up to date on their boosters should be able to receive it as soon as it’s available.
“This vaccine will be effective against variants we’re now seeing,” he said.
Finally, Jaben said that it remains difficult in most cases to differentiate COVID symptoms from symptoms of other illnesses or even allergies.
“The only way to know it’s not COVID is to test,” he said, adding that free tests are available at the Haywood County Health and Human Services office.
