Having briefly retreated from public view and consciousness, COVID-19 is back in the news of late, as a new and highly contagious variant known as “delta” is being held responsible for new infections among vaccinated and unvaccinated alike.

That doesn’t necessarily mean vaccines don’t work to ramp up the immune system or are less important. Rather, a vaccine is meant to expose one’s body to some aspect of a virus in a controlled manner such that the body can build its own immunity, but without enough people being vaccinated, herd immunity is not achieved at the societal level on account that a virus has more latitude to spread as the time for immune response with unprepared immune systems is greater, thereby leaving the broader public more open and vulnerable.

The above is not meant as a political statement or biased opinion, but one that is based in science and biology Be that as it may, COVID-19 is back in the news of late with infections on the rise statewide.

More locally and recently, the Chippewa County Health Department announced as of late July that attendees at Rockfest July 17 may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, and should watch for symptoms as these may occur between two to fourteen days after exposure.

Symptoms of COVID-29 to watch for include:

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

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• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea The announcement by Chippewa County Health of possible Rockfest exposure on July 17 means that “an individual or individuals that tested positive for COVID-19 were at the location on the day given, and you may have been exposed,” per the County Health Department Facebook page.

The Chippewa County Health Department recommends that those who were at Rockfest on July 17 and are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 contact a health provider to be tested.