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On June 15, The New York Times identified LaGrange as the No. 1 spot in the United States for the highest average daily growth rate of COVID-19 cases. 

That’s the kind of information that should make everyone sit up and take notice that the coronavirus isn’t over. This is definitely something we should still be paying attention to and attempting to social distance as much as possible. 

From June 7 until June 16, Troup County has seen its confirmed COVID-19 case count increase by 379.

As of June 16, the Georgia Department of Public Health now lists Troup County at 805 total cases. That number reflects total cases overall, not active cases. Over the last nine days, Troup County has added an average of 36.7 cases per day, according to GDPH numbers.

The number of deaths stands at 23 and the number of overall hospitalization sits at 100.

Although the number of cases indicates a spike in the case count, reports from the Georgia Department of Health and Human Services says the volume of laboratory testing is decreasing in Troup County. This number does not take into account private testing.

If that’s not an eye opener, then we’re not sure what is. 

We know there have been a few things going on in the world that may have caused us to take our eye off the ball when it comes to social distancing. Summer is here and the warmer the weather, the more people want to be outside and interact with their family and friends. 

We also understand it’s mentally draining and some people don’t want to live their life in fear of something they can’t see. It’s easy to think the virus was behind us when state officials begin to announce that restaurants and businesses are open again. 

It’s been said several times that we must reopen the economy and businesses can’t survive through more shut downs. That’s probably true, and we’re not sure anybody is suggesting another shutdown. However, we are suggesting that people use common sense and take responsibility for their own health. 

Wearing a mask in public isn’t just for your health — it’s for the people around you as well. While we seemed to turn a corner during the pandemic, it has come roaring back, and once again, our friends and neighbors are getting sick and some are, unfortunately, dying.  

We don’t need to live in fear, but we do need to be aware that this thing isn’t over. We encourage everybody to brush up on social distancing guidelines and remember that COVID-19 is still a highly contagious disease and does have the capability of causing severe medical problems.