Coronavirus Reality Check: The Covid 19 Pandemic Has NOT Gone Away

While deaths and hospitalizations are down, the infection rate is rising in some states. At least eight states have noted increases in their infection rates over a two week period. With vaccination rates down, the spread of the Delta variant in the United States, and a fight brewing over the vaccination of the young, including the mandatory vaccination of university students, the respite that we are enjoying is likely to prove temporary. The United Kingdom has been forced to push back its relaxation of public health restrictions due to increasing infections. 

COVID-19 cases rise slightly across US

These communities remain at high risk for dangerous Covid-19 variants rapidly increasing in US, expert warns 

CDC now calls coronavirus Delta variant a 'variant of concern'
Former White House adviser says dangerous coronavirus variant is 'like Covid on steroids'
Covid: Epidemic growing across England, says study
5 states pose a barrier to Biden's vaccine goals because they've so far vaccinated less than half of their population
The U.S. Has Hit 600,000 COVID Deaths, More Than Any Other Country
More evidence suggests COVID-19 was in US by Christmas 2019 

The COVID-19 coronavirus should not be our only concern. With the relaxation of public health restrictions in many parts of the country, we are seeing an uptick not only in summer colds but also in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a respiratory illness which can be life threatening in infants and toddlers and senior adults over the age of 65. 

CDC warns of respiratory illness spreading across the South
What Is RSV? CDC Warns of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Rising in the Southern U.S. 

Is It a Summer Cold or COVID-19? Here’s What Doctors Want You to Keep in Mind

It is not the time for Americans to ditch their face masks. Indeed we might follow the example of Japanese and  wear a face mask whenever we have a cold or the flu or some other infection disease that can spread through the air. Keeping our distance from people who are coughing or sneezing and frequently washing our hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds are good habits to adopt. Americans need to become more aware of how they can spread and contract diseases. Parents who leave their child at day care or send their child to school when they are sick have been responsible for infecting other children with their child's illness. Some childhood diseases that parents mistakenly think are harmless can do irreparable harm to a child. One way a church can serve its community is public health education. Inculcating good public health habits in children and adults would not only reduce the spread of infectious diseases but also the cost of health care.