Haywood County faces unexpected summer COVID surge similar to winter levels

HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Although nothing can compare to 2020, COVID is still here.

In Haywood County, summer case surges of the virus normally trend downward. But this year, they are on par with winter rates and there are reasons why.

Health leaders are reminding how to best protect against it.

Haywood County health leaders say summer COVID surges have normally been smaller than previous summers, and smaller than the preceding winters.

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But Dr. Mark Jaben says that is not the case this summer, according to the county’s number of cases.

We set up our own surveillance network with local practices, urgent cares, hospitals,” says Jaben. “This wave… appears to be as big as the winter, and it’s more so than previous summers,” he said.

Jaben says there are three main reasons.

“It gets hot. People go indoors in air conditioning, and we know the virus spreads. Secondly, the immune wall: that’s been built up in the community from infection and from vaccines. People have not been getting vaccinated. The third reason is the virus mutates,” he said.

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Although the summer wave is bigger this year, Jaben says there is some good news.

We are seeing hospitalizations, but people are not having to stay in the hospital as long, and we’re not seeing the level of deaths that you might anticipate from the number of infections that appear to be around,” he said.

Jaben says the top priority for protecting oneself is keeping vaccinations up to date.

“I’ve not seen any reports that it’s not available… There will be an updated vaccine this fall,” he said.

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He says the new vaccine should be out by early October.

“Every indication should be that it should be as effective as every other vaccine has been effective particularly for serious illness, but also for infection,” he said.

Jaben says for those who did not get vaccinated last fall, he recommends they get a booster shot now.

If, however, you did get vaccinated last fall or in the winter or in spring, I think that it makes sense just to wait on the next one,” he said.

He says attention is needed now that schools are returning and fall and winter are not far.

Jaben says it is time to think about pivoting.

“If you’re one of those people who’s really high-risk, wear a mask when you’re in those situations,” he said.

He says flu shots will also be important this year, and safety measures like handwashing, covering coughs and staying home when sick still apply.