Health Officials say back to school could see increase in covid cases, as rates climb across the US
DELMARVA – A late summer wave of covid19 is steadily rising across the u.s.
Covid hospitalizations have risen for a fifth consecutive week with more than 12 thousand new admissions in the week ending on August 12th, a more than 21 percent increase from the week prior according to new data from the CDC.
Here on Delmarva, wastewater testing is revealing an increase as well according to the Delaware Division of Public Health.
“Two areas in southern Delaware in the past seven days and the previous seven-day period increased 80 to 100%. So that’s a pretty significant percentage change. And I believe the rest of them were up there as well.,” said DPH epidemiologist Emily Hanlin adding “It’s nothing compared to the previous surges of Delta, so we are seeing some increases in our wastewater surveillance, our case data and we are seeing a very slight uptick in hospitalizations as well.”
Hamlin says hospitalizations are the most important statistic when tracking covid cases, but it can lag behind factors like PCR tests and Wastewater.
Beebe Hospital Director of Infectious Diseases Bill Chasanov says his facility is seeing a similar steady rise.
“COVID-19 hospitalizations in certain areas have started to increase, which is not which is not to be unexpected, understanding that the normal respiratory viruses generally start around August,” he said.
Chasanov says, that spike could soon go up more, as kids and teachers head back to school, something he tells us last year saw a boost in Covid, Flu, and RSV cases.
“We know that whenever we put it children or adults or others into, you know, into closer settings that respiratory viruses obviously have, you know, have the potential to spread,” he said.
Hanlin tells 47ABC that the latest dominant variant, EG.5, is an offshoot of omicron and that the latest round of boosters set to become available this fall will offer Americans a degree of protection against serious illness.
She says despite health officials raising awareness about the new spread, it is still a far cry from pandemic heights, where hospitals were concerned about overcapacity and a more virulent virus.
At TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Hospital in Salisbury, Dr. Chris Snyder tells 47ABC their cases are remaining flat, but he does expect numbers to move up when kids head back to class.
“RSV is going to be a big one again this year, that was horrible last year, and we had a ton of flu last year, So now, we’re looking forward to hopefully a lighter flu season this year, but we’ll see,” he said adding that he is thankfully seeing less severe illness in covid patients that are presenting.
“COVID patients evaluation when they come in the hospital, and I’m looking for those elements of illness that make it an acuity that puts them in the hospital, as long as it’s not doing that, it can be treated as a flu, a symptom management,” Snyder said.
Hanlin tells 47ABC that parents who want to be in the best shape should make sure children are up to date on their vaccination, and to never send a child to school when sick.
