FILE - In this March 2, 2021, file photo, Hollie Maloney, a pharmacy technician, loads a syringe with Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at the Portland Expo in Portland, Maine. The Biden administration’s embattled plan to dispense COVID-19 booster shots to most Americans faced its first key hurdle Friday, Sept. 17, as a government advisory panel met to decide whether to recommend extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

When death and silence surround you for more than a year, there is a strong chance you will consider the consequences of COVID-19. That is most definitely the case in New York City, where a seven-day positivity rate hovers right below the 2% margin.

That’s the shining star of the Empire State when it comes to that statistic. In other regions, the rate is much higher as cases continue an upward trend.

Here at home, it is close to 9%. Where are those COVID-19 cases coming? Most likely in the public schools.

Since the beginning of the month, those 19 and younger have seen an increase of 314 cases — more than 18% — since the first day of school. This has led to a major hassle for some parents and many families who may be listed as close contact.

For its part, New York state has — at least for now — discontinued its COVID report card. A visit to the former web site notes, “The New York State School COVID Report Card website is currently being updated; as such, survey data will not be displayed to the public temporarily. Please check back for updates.”

That is unfortunate for the public, which does not receive updates on a daily basis from area schools. In the meantime, remote options must be considered with the Delta variant wreaking havoc throughout the nation.

Jamestown schools is at least keeping its options open. “I know that people have seen the recent increase in COVID cases in the county and that is definitely something that we are keeping an eye on as well,” Whitaker said in a video posted to the district’s website Tuesday evening. “As I have mentioned before our goal is to keep kids in school full-time for as long as possible because we know that is the best possible case for them. So we have no reason to change now. However we are keeping an eye on things.”

We all must do the same. As the colder weather returns, there’s likely to be additional spikes.