COVID-19 cases upsurging in Columbia - Experts recommend masks, vaccinations, and social distancing

In light of the rising number of infections in the country, Dr. Carlos Lvarez, an infectious disease specialist and Colombian delegate to the WHO for COVID-19 investigations, advised residents to reintroduce self-care and use booster dosages.

"As much as possible," Alvarez said, "the person should maintain self-care by isolating themselves; that is, a person with respiratory symptoms should keep themselves isolated since it may be COVID-19, but it could also be another virus.”

In the case of the asymptomatic, he advised that people assess their own health concerns as well as the hazards posed by the environment, such as poorly ventilated areas with minimal physical space, before deciding whether or not to use the mask willingly.

"Those who do not have symptoms but do have risk factors should primarily utilize the mask again. I feel that just because it isn't required doesn't imply that everyone assesses their risks and continues to wear the mask, at least during this rainy season," he said.

According to the expert, a new minor surge in infections, even though deaths and hospitalizations have remained consistent, is due to the virus's mutation dynamics, which lead to new COVID-19 sub variants, or new versions of variations like Omicron, emerging.

The relaxation of the population in the face of prevention efforts is also tied to a situation where some measures, like the usage of face masks, are no longer necessary, among the other explanations for the increase in cases.

"The idea here is how to shift people's perceptions of risk," he noted. "There is mention of an impact termed the 'paradox of prevention,' where people worry less about continuing to prevent them when they perceive that there are no deaths or so many severe cases," he explained.

Finally, he stated that the increase in infections could be attributed to the loss of vaccine-induced protection, as antibodies begin to decline after four to six months, and thus most people require the third dosage.

"What we do here today will have an impact on what happens in the months ahead. If we don't get vaccinated now, we'll almost certainly see a rise in cases in the months ahead in the second half of 2022," he warned.