In the past five days, the fewest number of new cases of COVID-19 in Lee County has been 16.  Conversely, the week prior saw 10 or fewer new cases on all but one day.  A similar pattern took place in Chambers County during that time, but with slightly lower numbers.  Meanwhile, the numbers of new cases in Alabama surpassed 800 for four straight days before dropping to 600-plus cases today.

“We are clearly seeing more confirmed cases of COVID-19,” states Fred Kam, M.D. medical director at the Auburn University Medical Clinic. “Last week, we had 24 students test positive for the virus.  The cases were all related to birthday parties, lake parties and visits to downtown social establishments.” Kam says the availability of more testing and the lifting of restrictions are probable contributing factors. “There is no doubt in my mind we are seeing the after effects of Memorial Day parties, weekends at the lake or beach, and visits to some downtown venues,” states Kam. “I do not believe we have seen cases related to the protests, but it is still early in the timeline.” 

While hospitalizations at EAMC and EAMC-Lanier have remained relatively flat over the past two weeks, Kam says that hospitalizations “tend to lag behind in an outbreak.”  

Kam is concerned about what lies ahead.  “What is most frustrating to me as a physician who keeps up daily with COVID information is the seemingly lax attitude that people, young and old, have toward adhering to the only preventive strategies that have worked so far. Seeing people in the grocery stores and home improvement venues without masks and not making an attempt to keep a distance from others is incredibly frustrating, especially from those whom would be considered vulnerable.” 

Michael Roberts, M.D., hospitalist and EAMC’s chief of staff agrees.  “Wearing of face coverings remains an important part of a public health strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” stresses Roberts. He says a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzing data from China, Italy, and New York, suggested that wearing of face coverings may be the most critical factor in limiting the spread of COVID-19. 

“Wearing a cloth face covering or mask in public is an inexpensive and simple intervention,” Roberts says. “As our state reopens, and social distancing in public places becomes more difficult, this simple intervention becomes more important, not less. When I wear a face covering in public, it says that I care enough about you to protect you from a virus that I may not even know I am carrying. Your mask says the same thing to me. It is not a political issue. It is a matter of public health.” 

Kam says the virus has not gone anywhere. “We have to learn to live with it, but that does not mean we have to encourage behaviors to facilitate its spread, which is what is happening. Aside from a lockdown, wearing face coverings in public venues so far has proven to be the most effective means to reduce the person to person spread of this virus,” says Kam.  “Young people need to understand the role they play in both spreading and preventing the spread of this virus. Older people need to model the strategies that have worked, like wearing masks, physical social distancing, hand hygiene and limiting your movements in public to what’s essential. We all have a responsible part to play in this pandemic and we need to do what we can, even if it is inconvenient or uncomfortable for a short, finite period of time.”