COVID-19 cases on the rise

COVID-19 cases have sharply increased across the country and in California over the last few weeks. I know for me and my family, the ring of people who are infected or worried about exposure is closer than earlier this year.

When I walk my neighborhood in San Francisco, I’m happy to see that most people are wearing masks and practicing social distancing. However, on those walks, I’m also seeing surprising risky behavior inside and outside restaurants and bars, even in homes where there appear to be parties happening with multiple people in close quarters. People are too close and not wearing masks.

We seem to have forgotten or have temporarily suspended the notion that we should assume that we’re all infected and that those around us are as well. We’re at least showing a willingness to assume more risk and it’s showing in the number of new infections. There’s no question, the collective “us” is responsible for the upswing.

Yesterday, Governor Newsom issued a limited Stay at Home order requiring non-essential work and gatherings to stop from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in counties in the purple tier, the highest tier of COVID-19 precautions, for one month, and on Monday he announced elevating all but a handful of counties to the purple tier to slow the spread of the virus. This means that most businesses can only operate outdoors, bars not selling food and amusement parks are closed, offices are remote only, and those business operating, indoors or outdoors, will have reduced capacity and increased health and safety modifications. It’s clear from the rollbacks of business operations (gyms, churches, etc.) that unprotected proximity and indoor spaces are fueling the uptick in cases. 

COVID-19 cases in California

As of November 20, COVID-19 cases increased more than 1 percent over the previous day. That’s more than 13,000 positive cases of the virus in one day. You can see from the chart below that this upswing is on the path to outpace our summer surge.  

Get the latest California data here.

We know what to do

The virus is no more infectious than it was in March, so we know we can keep ourselves and our loved ones safe, curb viral spread, and avoid overwhelming our healthcare system if we individually and collectively take steps now. Follow the “3 Ws” that we’ve talked about for months – wear a mask, watch your distance, wash your hands often. Stay home if you can, most certainly please stay home if you’re feeling sick, and be conscious about avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands.

What about the holidays?

As the holidays approach quickly, knowing what to do has particular importance. We’re all feeling COVID-19 fatigue, and yet now is the time to remain vigilant. That means that this year’s holiday celebrations may look different for you. I know they will be different for me and my family. I would encourage us all to get back into the mindset of flattening the curve that we had in March and April. So please think carefully about intermingling households—even family households. Avoid doing so if possible, especially if you have elderly family members or others at risk for severe COVID-19 illnesses. We’ve told my dad and our in-laws that we’re skipping this year’s holidays with them so we can have many more in the future.

If you do choose to be with family or friends beyond your immediate family during the holidays, keep in mind that if you’re within 6 feet of anyone and not wearing a mask, you are assuming all of the exposure risk, known and unknown, that person has taken in the last two weeks. The same rules apply: assume you’re infected as well as those around you, wear a mask while indoors and stay 6 feet apart. Limit the removal of your mask to when you are outdoors and 6 feet from anyone else. As hard as this is, it’s just not worth the risk, particularly knowing that family gatherings are emerging as a leading cause of viral spread. 

I encourage you to be creative to prevent isolation. Set up FaceTime’s with family and friends over the holiday. Schedule virtual game nights and happy hours – whatever you enjoy most, give it a try virtually and stay connected where you can. 

Stay safe and healthy!