After watching COVID-19 infection numbers dwindle in June, the U.S. is seeing the rate of infection rising again in August. On Saturday, the daily count of new COVID cases exceeded 100,000 for the first time since last winter.

U.S. health officials are worried that the numbers will continue to soar in the months ahead without an increase in the vaccination rate. About 50 percent of Americans have been fully vaccinated, while about 70 percent have at least one shot.

There are some people who think vaccinations are unnecessary, at least for themselves. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, for instance, is staking his health on strict adherence to masking and social distancing, rather than getting a vaccination.

It may work for him. We certainly hope it does. Vaccination is working for a lot of other people, too.

Which approach would most people prefer? To get a couple of shots and be protected, or spend the next several months masked up and staying six feet away from everyone?

We hear a lot of people saying how tired they are of masks and distance restrictions. Sounds like vaccinations are the easier way of getting protection from the new variant of COVID-19.