TEXAS, USA — Across the nation, there's been an increase in reported cases of COVID-19 as well as increased levels of the virus in wastewater.
CDC data shows virus activity in wastewater has more than quadrupled in America since June 1. Additionally, data from the CDC shows numbers higher in Texas.
"We call it the summer wave," Dr. Van Wehmeyer, Baylor Scott & White Family Medicine Medical Director, said. "We have seen an uptick."
That's because more people are traveling.
"And kind of going into more closed group celebrations," Wehmeyer added. "It's a little bit more hot outside, so people are tending to stay more indoors."
The current variant, KP3, a variant of the Omicron, is what medical experts are seeing this summer.
It's monitored through wastewater.
"We're not testing at sites," Wehmeyer explained. "We're not testing in the clinics as much unless people are symptomatic. We're not testing at home. When certain levels get higher, then the virus is replicating and being shattered in those ways that show up in our wastewater. Right now we're on kind of a peak, you know, compared to the last six months."
Wehmeyer says most people are just having some congestion. Some are having fever, respiratory symptoms and a prolonged cold.
To stay safe, Wehmeyer says a new vaccine targeting this variant is coming out this fall.
"What we've been telling people in the medical community is don't go out and get vaccinated right now," said Wehmeyer. "If it's been six months, been 12 months since your last vaccine, or more, wait till this new vaccine is out."
Wehmeyer wants to remind people there's no need to panic as hospitalizations aren't going up.
"It's nothing like we've seen in the past," Wehmeyer said.
Right now in Central Texas, Wehmeyer says we have Saharan dust and allergens are high. If you have allergies, but it's more intense, he recommends keeping a swab on hand. For the kids going back to school, if they have runny noses or a fever, parents should test them.
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