Time to hunker down again

“We are not heading in the right direction.” That assessment, from the La Crosse County Health Director, seems an understatement. La Crosse County is seeing a sudden and sharp spike in the number of coronavirus cases. The rapid rise in local numbers has even gotten the attention of the New York Times. La Crosse has seen twenty or so cases for several days, mainly among people in their twenties. We had worked so hard for so long to follow health guidelines, and the numbers were slowing. Now that some people rush to get back to normal, the numbers are spiking. It is a worrisome trend, as some who may think they are somehow immune from a pandemic fail to take proper precautions, and put the rest of us at risk. As predicted, a number of local businesses are again choosing to shutter their doors, or change their business models, as a result of the local spike in covid 19. We need to do a better job following health department guidelines if we hope to slow the spread. Social distancing, masks in public, avoiding large gatherings, frequent hand washing, and staying home if you are sick. As recent numbers show, this is not over, and it won’t be anytime soon unless people act more responsibly.