Sun’s Out, Masks On!
Here we go again! The sun is shining, the days are getting longer, and it’s time to… keep wearing our face masks!
It’s been a very, very long year, and I’d love to have a “normal” spring and summer as much as anyone, but the COVID-19 pandemic still is not over. According to the CDC, new COVID-19 cases have been consistently increasing over the last few days, for the first time since January. Although we’ve been making remarkable progress with COVID-19 vaccination, as of this writing less than 1 in 6 of the U.S. population (16%) is fully vaccinated. Experts predict that at least 70% of the population will need to be immune to COVID-19 to achieve “herd immunity”, but we are still nowhere near that threshold.
I still feel confident that we will get there, but please don’t jump the gun before we do. Don’t forget that despite predictions that the virus would go away in warm weather, the second U.S. wave of COVID-19 peaked last summer. Please, don’t contribute to a fourth wave. Keep wearing your masks, keep social distancing, and get your COVID-19 vaccine when you’re eligible. It’s up to every one of us to fight this pandemic together. Don’t be the weak link that breaks our chain of protection.