Deja Vu
I follow COVID-19 trends every day as a health care reporter, and although I expected COVID-19 cases to increase with the rise of the delta variant, I must admit I’m surprised by how eerily similar this week has felt compared to last year’s summer surge the weeks before school started – coronavirus-related news releases hitting my email multiple times throughout the day, panicked calls from readers and sources, trying to keep up with a relentless stream of information. It’s been exhausting to say the least, and I can only imagine how public health and hospital staff feel right now.
The biggest differences between now and then, though, is that we actually have the tools to control the pandemic. My brain is too fried to remember who said this to me recently, but it’s stuck with me ever since: “We’re not fighting the virus anymore. We’re fighting ourselves.” Please be aware that misinformation proliferates online, and if you have a question about COVID-19 vaccines, face masks or any of the other things we can do to help keep our community safe don’t hesitate to reach out. I might not know the answer myself, but I’m pretty good at finding the experts who do.
Stay safe,
– Elizabeth Fite, health care reporter, efite@timesfreepress.com