Cass County now has the second-highest active cases of any county in the state, and cases are climbing.

“With colleges coming back into session, different things, more kids coming back into the area, people being out and about more,” Fleming said.

“If people aren’t social distancing and aren’t wearing masks at those types of events, you can have 50 people and it could be a large event if you have a positive case in that mix,” Fleming said.

Right now experts say without a vaccine, social distancing, masks, and handwashing are the only defense against COVID-19, and Fleming says it’s not the time to get lazy.