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West Virginia's COVID-19 state of emergency ended at the beginning of this year. President Joe Biden has announced the national public health emergency will officially end May 11. And now, West Virginia's Department of Health and Human Resources has changed the way it reports COVID-19 data. It is no longer reporting the number of "current active cases."
"In line with the federal public health emergency set to expire, DHHR is updating the COVID-19 dashboard metrics to better reflect the current response to the pandemic," the DHHR website says. "Dashboard updates will occur weekly on Wednesdays."
An asterisk on the dashboard further explains: "Current active cases will no longer be displayed. This metric is no longer used as universal case investigations are no longer recommended in the context of the current response.
It is likely the number was inaccurate for months, anyway, as fewer people test when they experience symptoms and those who do test positive do not always report their illness. But the change brings up an important question: Now what?
As recently as a week ago masks were required for entry into federal facilities such as the visitors center for New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. But few in West Virginia are wearing masks these days even when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it's a good idea. We hear fewer people talking about making sure they are up-to-date with COVID vaccines and boosters.
Is it over? Well, no. But we have certainly changed our thinking on the virus -- deadly as it still may be to some.
With that change must come consideration of an annual COVID-19 vaccine, similar to what many of us receive for the flu each year. If health officials and researchers determine it necessary, they should waste no time developing one and making it available for the same reasons so many seek a flu shot each fall.
What must not change are the habits of which we were reminded at the start of the pandemic. Keep your distance, wash and sanitize your hands often and for goodness sake stay home if you are sick. That should be standard practice whether you are dealing with a stomach bug or coronavirus.
Absence of a data point on the DHHR's website should not lead to an absence of common sense or courtesy. Continue to do what is best for your own health and for those around you.