Many months back, a virus began to spread around the world that today in Polk County has changed the course of lives on every level and based on previous spread will continue to do so for many months to come.

Some good news is that the number of new COVID-19 cases went up only slightly over the past two days – five in total spread over Sunday and today. Yet after six months and despite many efforts to try to slow the spread of the virus, COVID-19 remains active locally, statewide, nationally and globally.

As of today, there are 1,339 positives for the virus in Polk County in total, spread out from mid-March to mid-September.

Over those past six months, restrictions were put in place that required schools to shut down for months, businesses unable to serve patrons because of the social distancing limitations, and local governments forced to curtail services like recreation opportunities for youth or rental of buildings customarily used for large gatherings.

Going shopping requires the use of a mask. Social conventions have kept people from shaking hands and taking group pictures. Based on a recent study that has been talked about in the news, even eating out again is a risky proposition. The impact on the lives of every person in this community is felt on a daily basis because of COVID-19.

Open or closed, COVID-19 has provided another dividing line in the marker of history. The time before COVID-19, and now the time after.

Since the virus has made its way into Polk County, 17 people have died. The virus has required 86 local residents to seek care from area medical centers for the symptoms it brings, well known to all by now. Day by day, the numbers continue to go up.

Those numbers over the past month have slowed down some. Compared to August – and a daily increase record of 48 set on August 25 – the increases for the month of September have gone down per the data reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health and there have been seven days this month with only single digit case increases compared, which over the 31 days of the previous month accounted for that figure in total. The month is nearly half over and half the days have already proven to have single digit increases, and a reduced positive rate.

That today for the past two weeks sat at 8.5% of the tests conducted between the beginning of September and now, and the overall positive rate has decreased locally to 14.1%.

Summer’s increases for COVID-19 are slowing down in new positives reported to the DPH as fall approaches locally, but statewide the number of cases continues to go up on a daily basis and are nearing the 300,000 mark. Georgia’s cases increased today by another 1,055 confirmed, bringing the overall total reported by the agency to 295,337. Even with COVID-19 testing site changes as the next round of flu season arrives and the need for vaccination efforts to begin, the number of people getting tested continues to rise.

That figure as of this afternoon’s report sits at 2,905,977 combined molecular and antibody tests conducted in Georgia – and still rising by the day. Back in the spring, the testing capability was one of the major concerns as the pandemic began to spread from county to county across the country. Six months in and only around 27% of the state’s population has gotten tested. On a local level (with some help from Google on the math) some 9,496 tests have been administered and counting. That is 21% of the local population using the 2018 estimate who have gotten tested, if one can count it as people.

But that figure is likely off some because the number of tests administered and have come back positive does not exactly equate to the number of people who have, for instance, go to be tested multiple times for work reasons and report they are from Polk County.

What is clear is one thing: COVID-19 cases have at least slowed down in the data provided by the state on a daily basis over past weeks. The number of new hospitalizations continues to rise and fall on a daily basis, but compared to previous months is well down. Only 25 new patients were admitted statewide today, bringing the overall total to 26,394. Out of that figure, 4,830 people have needed intensive care treatment.

Sadly, the deaths attributed to the virus also continue to grow, now at 6,353, up another 20 from Sunday to Monday. Nationwide, 193,705 people have been lost because of the virus, and 6,503,030 cases have been reported according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Polk County, Georgia, the United States and the world as a whole have great challenges left to face down due to the virus. The pain felt because of COVID-19 will remain for some time.

Let’s first and foremost remember all those who have thus far lost their lives, and the people who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic to remain on the front lines and care for those who are sick as everyone does their part to fight the spread of the virus.

Continue to practice social distancing, wear a mask, use hand sanitizer and wash your hands regularly, and most importantly be mindful of your space and others around you.