Steve Ahnen is president of the NH Hospital Affiliation. Jim Potter, CAE, is government vp of the NH Medical Society, Pamela DiNapoli, PhD, RN, CNL, is government director of the NH Nurses Affiliation.

COVID-19 circumstances and hospitalizations are on the rise in New Hampshire at ranges we haven’t seen since earlier this yr in the course of the omicron surge, and these ranges are effectively beneath the precise charges of recent circumstances given the abundance of at-home exams.

Fortunately, we’ve got not but seen the sort of important spike in hospitalizations that we noticed beforehand, however group transmission charges are excessive and can little doubt result in additional hospitalizations. Whereas all of us could also be rising weary of the pandemic, we will take steps to assist restrict the unfold of COVID-19 and assist us all get again to doing the issues we wish to do safely.

Vaccination continues to be the best device we’ve got to restrict the unfold of COVID-19 and scale back lengthy COVID signs. In the event you haven’t acquired a vaccine, now’s the time to take action. When you have, please get your booster when it’s acceptable for you to take action for ages 5 and above. We all know that immunity wanes over time, so being updated in your vaccines is vital to stopping an infection, severe sickness, hospitalization and demise.

If you’re not feeling effectively, keep dwelling and get examined. In the event you check constructive, speak to your physician or well being care supplier in regards to the authorized therapeutics that may make it easier to handle your case of COVID-19. And when group transmission charges are excessive, as they’re in most of New Hampshire right this moment, please contemplate sporting a masks when in indoor areas to guard your self and others.

All of those evidence-based measures have been proven to assist scale back the prevalence of COVID-19 and can assist forestall our well being care system from being overwhelmed, in order that they can proceed offering high-quality care to each affected person, no matter whether or not they have COVID-19 or another pressing well being care challenge.

We’re all on this collectively, and collectively, we will make a distinction to guard our well being and the well being of these we love and others in our group. That is our shot to scale back the transmission of COVID-19 in order that we will maintain New Hampshire wholesome and higher benefit from the summer time.