Don’t let a few days of warmer temperatures fool you. We are barreling toward virus season, and the weather won’t be doing anyone any favors.

In fact, the spread of viruses is already ramping up in some parts of the Buckeye State, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggesting that some counties should return to stricter health measures. Several Ohio counties are back up to a high level of community spread for COVID-19.

The statewide average last week was 182 cases per 100,000 people.

Though we may believe we are more protected here in the rural, Appalachian counties, the Mayo Clinic’s COVID-19 map shows Guernsey and Morgan counties as two of the only three counties in red.

If you are not fully vaccinated and boosted, please consider getting caught up. Continue with good practices such as washing and sanitizing your hands and maintaining your distance. And if you feel ill, stay home and get tested. Don’t make the dangerous assumption that it’s just allergies. Take the test and be certain.

Be smart this season, folks.