As shocking as the summer spikes in COVID cases may seem, they're hardly raising experts' eyebrows! According to Katelyn Jetelina, a PhD epidemiologist, there has been a noticeable uptick in COVID every summer since the infamous pandemic debut in 2020. As the heat rises, people cluster indoors, inadvertently heightening the opportunity for viral spread.

Then there's the relentless knack the virus has for shape-shifting. As it mutates, it can sidestep immunity and become more contagious, as with infamous variants: KP.1, KP.2, and LB.1.

So, should we toss our masks in despair and surrender to our viral overlords? Not quite! COVID vaccines more often than not, remain an ace up our collective sleeves. They continue to shield people from severe infection.

Unfortunately, one potential suspect in the resurgence of cases happens to be the loosened isolation guidelines for those who test positive for COVID. Robert Hopkins, MD, of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, indicates that some people may be misconstruing or dismissing these guidelines as COVID fatigue sets in.

Let's keep it real, though. Even if you've mentally put COVID in your rear-view mirror, it's still a significant threat to older adults and immunocompromised individuals who are more susceptible to severe illness and complications.

So what's the game plan? For one, testing remains important. While the days of free government-provided tests are over, there are alternatives. COVID tests can be purchased as cheaply as $7.50 each from pharmacies and online stores, and can be used to apply timely treatments if you're at risk of developing a severe disease.

Next on the list is discussing medication options with your doctor if you belong to the high-risk group. Early administration of drugs like Paxlovid can potentially halt the progression of COVID to severe stages.

Despite imminent vaccine updates, the CDC encourages that those at risk have a conversation with their doctor about getting vaccinated now. As always, everyone's circumstances are unique so it's best to get personalized advice.

In a nutshell: keep cool (literally and figuratively), follow the CDC recommendations, test if you need to, and consider vaccination if you're high-risk. And, as always, stay updated with the latest COVID-19 news on our coronavirus news page.

Remember: the virus might have mutations, but we've got our strategies to adapt and stay healthy.