Since January, the Appalachian Highlands has experienced a drastic, sustained decrease in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rates and hospitalizations.
This is welcome news for our regional leaders, community members and healthcare workers. It’s also the result of an enormous community effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, including tireless work to distribute vaccines, passionate advocacy for infection prevention and commitment by our residents to maintain physical distancing, avoid crowds and wear masks in public.
With the relatively recent reduction in cases, decisions by some elected leaders to lift mask requirements in their jurisdictions is not unexpected. Ballad Health certainly appreciates county leaderships’ responsiveness to their constituents’ desires, especially as they strive to find balance with public health recommendations. These are still challenging times, and no decisions are made lightly.
However, even without mask mandates in place, Ballad Health urges everyone in the Appalachian Highlands to take personal responsibility for their roles in continuing this decline in regional COVID-19 cases. This includes making the choice to protect themselves and those around them from potential virus spread by avoiding unnecessary crowds and wearing masks in public – even if they’re not required.
Ballad Health is optimistic that, if everyone in our communities continues reasonable COVID-19 precautions, including mask-wearing, case numbers will remain low – and lives will be saved.
More information about Ballad Health’s COVID-19 efforts, including testing and vaccine information, is available at www.balladhealth.org/COVID19.
