As we approach another holiday weekend, leading health experts are concerned celebrations could cause a spike in Covid-19 cases.
“We got a lot of experience with memorial day and fourth of July where we saw an uptick in cases,” Dr. Patrick Lytle, Vice President of Clinical Outcomes at Kettering Health Network said. “Americans are a very social country so on holidays, we get together with family, our friends and the problem with COVID is you can be asymptomatic for a few days and be infectious.”
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On Memorial Day, Ohio reported more than 32,000 Covid-19 cases.
Two weeks later, that number grew to 38,000.
On Independence Day, Ohio Covid-19 numbers jumped from more than 56,000 cases to more than 87,000 cases two weeks later.
“When you see factors setting up where there’s an issue that more people could be infected with this virus, it is concerning,” Lytle added.
An additional factor into Labor Day weekend, kids who will be in class on September 8th, may unknowingly be carrying the virus.
“Anytime we see a holiday where people get together, we see an increase afterwards,” Northwestern Superintendent Jesse Steiner said. “If we see an uptick in Covid cases in the community, we should expect that in our schools as well.”
Dr. Lytle says it’s up to each person to celebrate the holiday weekend safely.
“If you feel a little under the weather, getting a little bit of a cold or a cough, I wouldn’t go out, I wouldn’t socialize, take a pass on going to the event,” Lytle said. “I would wear a mask, practice good hand hygiene, wouldn’t share any drinks or glasses or utensils and I would limit my time.”