From the time the coronavirus hit Northeast Michigan in April, it took 50 days for our region to reach a peak 106 active infections — those confirmed infected but not recovered or dead — on Memorial Day.

Things are worse now.

For comparison’s sake, 124 newly infected Northeast Michiganders were reported in the first nine days in November.

But we beat back this virus before — we had just seven active infections at the end of July, the overwhelming majority of the reduction from people recovering without adding new infections.

And we can beat it again.

In fact, we know even more now about how to beat it than we did in the spring.

Mask up whenever you’re in public. Stay at least six feet away from people outside your household. Avoid large crowds. Wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration has shut down dine-in restaurant service and forced high schoolers and college students to learn online, among other restrictions, for the next three weeks.

Do your part.

Stay home unless absolutely necessary.

We can beat this again.

A vaccine is on its way. But it’s time again to knuckle down until then.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)