Here in N.C., the numbers are going straight up, we’re up from 2000 new cases per day a month ago to 4,000 a week ago and 5,600 yesterday (!). During the same period, our positive test percentage has climbed from 6.2% to 11.2% yesterday. It’s climbing in all areas of the state, but the biggest jumps are now in the rural areas, not the cities. We have 50 COVID cases at my neighboring hospital, and we are getting short of ICU beds. My guess is it’s a combination of those that refuse to mask and socially distance, the reopening of most businesses including bars and gyms, the reopening of many schools, the population getting tired and sloppy about precautions because it has gone on so long, and of course Thanksgiving travel and gatherings. It’s compounded by things like a local store with signs that initially read (before being cited) “no mask wearing in this store” and a town a few miles from us holding a Christmas parade complete with streets lined with spectators despite the warnings against it from our state health department. The mayor declared it was an exception to the statewide ban on parades because it was a religious service since the parade began in the parking lot of the local Baptist Church - you can’t make this stuff up. And you apparently can’t fix stupid.