clinical social work association

There is much information coming out about the level of risk we face at this time to the COVID-19 virus.  There are several new variants, particularly the Delta variant, which are spreading quickly.  The unvaccinated population varies widely and is a major factor in the likelihood of infection, even for those that have been vaccinated.

This surge, which just resulted this weekend in Los Angeles returning to mask-wearing in public places, comes at the same time that many LCSWs are starting to consider returning to seeing patients in person.  CSWA is offering a 2-hour webinar on this complex topic on July 22, 2021, at 1 pm EDT (see www.clinicalsocialworkassociation.org to register).

While it is very difficult to fully assess the level of risk that LCSWs face in going back to our offices or other small spaces like restaurants, we can educate ourselves about our own city/region.  Here are some articles to help with that process:

Currently, 48.9% of the US population has been fully vaccinated and another 7.6% have been partially vaccinated. The US COVID-19 new case and fatality rate 7-day averages have doubled in the last two weeks (see "Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count" at (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html).  

Despite growing evidence that vaccination curbs mutation (see "COVID-19 Vaccines May Be Curbing New Virus Mutations",   (https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/954621), the political (and largely regional) rift between the vaccinated and unvaccinated is growing (see "Coronavirus latest: Chicago adds Delta-variant hotspots Missouri and Arkansas to advisory list" (https://www.ft.com/content/95716f06-c92d-4f9a-b2f7-30e30ce7cb22 ). 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said  " The Delta variant is ripping around the world at a scorching pace, driving a new spike in COVID-19 cases and death," noting that the highly contagious variant, first detected in India, had now been found in more than 104 countries,  deaths are again rising and many countries have yet to receive enough vaccine doses to protect their health workers (see " WHO Says Countries Should Not Order COVID-19 Boosters While Others Still Need Vaccines" (https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/954643  ).  

Where COVID restrictions are loosening, anxiety is increasing according to this Medscape article: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/954793 . New psychotherapy patient calls (already at a record high since the pandemic began) have risen dramatically during the past week.