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There are so many coronavirus variants that it’s hard to keep up with all of them. We’ve had Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, plus many, many more.

Delta, as you are aware, has been the most concerning of those variants and has spread across our country like wildfire. But for the first time in a while, there is some good news on the COVID front.

First, the Mu variant, which scientists were extremely worried about earlier this year, appears to have been eradicated in the United States, per media reports. So, that’s one less variant we currently have to worry about.

Also, the number of COVID-19 cases in Troup County continues to dip. From the start of July on, numbers were climbing until the start of September. We’re currently in a steep fall and had only 16 cases in Troup County on Sunday and Monday. Hopefully, that trend continues.

The number of vaccinated people in Troup County continues to rise too.

We’re up to 39% of residents who have received at least one shot and 33% who are fully vaccinated. While that’s well behind the nation and the state of Georgia, it is at least progress. At the start of August, only 31% had received one dose and only 27% were fully vaccinated.

So, yes, progress is being made on that front too.

Let’s hope we keep trending in the right direction.

People are still dying. Community members are still getting sick, some very sick. Some are hospitalized (37 as of Tuesday).

So, it’s not completely over.