Things have been “looking a lot closer to normal than it was last year,” the Eagle was told in one of several stories last weekend on how events and activities are drawing larger crowds after 2020’s year of COVID-19.

In this case, that person was Dave Soose, the Mars Area School District Marching Band’s director, who noted last year was difficult for students, but this year is seeing a return to some sense of normalcy. Soose noted that students in the band are back with a renewed sense of vigor.

The same appeared to be true elsewhere around the county in recent days. Events and activities last weekend at the 2021 Moraine State Park Regatta were well attended, and the Butler Farm Show kicked off Monday.

It’s great to see activities for youths — band camp and sports — getting back to normal and large county events — the regatta and farm show — back in full swing.

But this can all be undone quickly if people don’t follow the guidance of health experts. The delta variant of COVID-19 now accounts for more than 90% of all U.S. cases, and is believed to be more dangerous and transmissible than other variants.

Worse yet, the virus could mutate again, some health experts fear, and become even more deadly and fast spreading.

There are easy steps to take that could prevent this from happening. Those who are safe to get vaccinated should do research other than on social media to figure out whether they should get their shots.

If you’re asked to wear a mask in a store, just do it. Although masking rules have been lifted, individual businesses can still ask you to wear one.

If you’re around people who aren’t vaccinated — or cannot get a shot due to an illness or allergy — cover your face.

If not for yourself, take precautions so students in the marching band can continue to go to practice and county events can continue to draw crowds and recoup money lost due to last year’s cancellations.

Don’t punish the people who’ve done the right thing and taken precautions where they should.

“There’s still a sense of cautiousness because they hear of other things going on around the world,” Soose said of the band camp students. “We’re making sure we’re following the precautions asked of us, but we’re taking it day by day.”

He gets it — and so do the students in the camp, who lost out on a year of typical high school activities last year. They don’t want to lose another one.

Nobody does. Do the right thing by following precautions that can help to defeat this virus once and for all.

— NCD