As the holiday season, winter break and colder months arrive, Montgomery County has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases.
In an effort to combat the increasing Coronavirus cases, officials are placing emphasis on making sure citizens’ coronavirus vaccinations are up to date. Data released by the Montgomery County Government COVID-19 Information Portal, shows that roughly 120 residents per 100,000 residents have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in the past seven days. This is a dramatic increase compared to the beginning of December, when there were only about 90 new cases per 100,000 residents. According to WUSA 9, a DC Metro Area news station, “the overall case rates are still low compared to past surges, but officials are watching the data closely.”
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich recommended wearing a mask ahead of the holidays, and not just because of an increased COVID presence. Since MoCo citizens have been traveling for the holidays and exposed to colder weather, they might also come in contact with other seasonal illnesses, such as the common cold, RSV, the flu, strep throat and pneumonia. The combination of all these illnesses has caused an increase in hospitalizations, which places stress on local hospitals.
The MoCo COVID-19 Surveillance indicates that the county has reached a “Medium status.” Two factors indicate the Coronavirus status within the county. The first is new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 over a seven-day period. Recently there have been roughly 10 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents over seven days, indicating a medium amount of admissions in the county. The second determining factor is the percent of “staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients” by a 7-day average. Recently the county has reached roughly 12%, indicating a medium status.
The opinions of students across the county are quite similar in regard to the increase in Coronavirus cases. Winston Churchill High School freshman Joyce Tian believes an increase in cases is adverse for the county. “COVID-19 brought a huge change worldwide…and it’s still spreading to this day,” Tian said. Tian is determined to do her part in stabilizing the cases throughout the county by wearing face masks in public areas to avoid getting herself and her family sick.
With the increase in COVID-19 cases, many MoCo officials agree that it’s necessary for residents to make sure their vaccinations are up to date. They also recommend wearing face masks in public spaces to avoid a further increase in cases.
Written by Malena Martin of Richard Montgomery High School
Photo courtesy of Avery Wang