Montana Sees Increased COVID-19 Activity This Fall

We are only a few days into September, and it appears COVID has decided not to wait for winter.

There are increases in COVID-19 activity throughout the nation. This increase is primarily occurring throughout western states. This means it is time for some of us to question every cough, runny nose, and unexplainable muscle ache. And by "question every cough, runny nose, and unexplainable muscle ache."

And by "some of us," I mean me.

I've Been Playing the "Is It COVID?" Game

That's right, my inner hypochondriac is running wild right now. A couple of weeks ago I contracted what I believed to be a pretty standard cold. As far as the actual cold goes, nothing too spectacular happened, But, I’ve been dragging myself along for two weeks since then. My energy level is terrible, I’m a little sore, and I feel like someone substituted my regular batteries with the super-cheap ones available at the Dollar Store.

Needless to say, my inner hypochondriac has taken control of things. Was it truly just a cold? Could it have possibly been a mild case of COVID? Am I still recovering? Am I just getting older?

That last possibility is the one I'm choosing to ignore.

Nationwide COVID Activity is Once Again On the Rise

According to the CDC, there’s an increase in COVID-19 activity across the U.S., including many areas of the West. At the same time, national rates of all respiratory illnesses continue to be very low. We’re clearly not witnessing a large-scale wave of flu cases like we do during winter.

But seeing COVID-19 cases rising prior to our entering into Fall feels a little premature.

Additionally, Montana also continues to experience increased COVID-19 activity as well. According to tracked data, this increase in COVID-19 activity can be seen as we approach the traditional season when rates of respiratory illness significantly increase.

Back to Questioning Each Sneeze

Perhaps that will be the greatest lesson we take away from the pandemic. Prior to 2020, if you were to come down with a cold, you’d complain about it for a few days and move on. Now, each time your throat hurts, you start investigating your symptoms as if you’re an expert on medicine and worth an entire episode of House.

So for all I know, I came down with a cold, and it’s simply going to take me longer than average to get rid of it. But with COVID-19 activity already beginning to pick up around the nation, my inner hypochondriac has formally opened up the case files again.

Terrific.