We are worried about increases in COVID-19 cases in southwest Georgia.

Across the nation, throughout Georgia and, yes, in southwest Georgia, it appears the second wave — the fall surge — is beginning. 

Football games have been canceled throughout our region. Just to our north, Colquitt County has had to cancel games. The Lowndes High School football team east of us has been quarantined for two weeks.

“If we could get symptomatic people to stay at home, isolate properly, and consult with their physician, that would pay huge dividends,” said Dr. Charles Ruis, health director of the  Southwest Health District. “Beyond that, wearing masks, hand washing, and staying six feet apart can reduce the spread.”

In addition, Dr. Ruis said individuals who may not be showing symptoms still can infect others. 

Honestly, we just cannot understand why so many people are not taking this infectious disease seriously. 

Mask wearing and social distancing ought to be increasing instead of decreasing. 

People are acting like COVID is over when, in fact, it looks like it is only going to get worse. 

The state of Georgia had been seeing a noticeable decrease in the number of cases, and the rate of people being admitted to hospitals and dying from COVID-19 also had slowed. That downward trend, though, has started to reverse course. On September 28, there were 612 new cases confirmed across the state. Less than three weeks later, that number was 1,679 cases confirmed on a single day.

We fear that increased hospitalizations and then deaths will follow. 

Maybe you are tired of us writing about it over and over again. 

If you don’t want to listen to us, listen to Dr. Ruis. 

“Those more vulnerable to contracting the disease need to exercise caution because the virus is still increasing in many of our communities right now,” he said. “If those more vulnerable to the disease go out in public and get infected, they are more likely to experience a more serious case of the disease and are more susceptible to death than their younger, healthier counterparts.”

Cavalier, flippant attitudes are going to get vulnerable people killed. 

Enough already with the conspiracy theories, no one is talking about shutting down the economy or taking away your personal liberty. 

What we are talking about is simply this: wear masks, avoid crowds, socially distance and wash your hands frequently.