By Sara McCloskey

As families return from their final trips of summer break before school starts again, an unpopular virus is rearing its head.

COVID-19 is on the rise, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting more than half of the country seeing an uptick in cases in mid-August.

“Most COVID-19 cases we are seeing in children who are asymptomatic or are having mild symptoms,” said Gonzalo Bearman, M.D., chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases at VCU Health. “This is certainly not the level we saw at the beginning of the pandemic, but we’re not headed in the right direction.”

This surge has been going on since July and can be attributed to four different COVID-19 variants, as of Aug. 13. It's being traced through testing local wastewater for infectious diseases, which helps health departments and hospitals know if an illness is circulating in an area even if people don’t have symptoms yet. With the newest COVID-19 vaccine being released soon, Bearman spoke with VCU Health News about this current rise in cases and what to watch out for if you are sick.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19 that people are currently experiencing?

Patients can have a wide range of symptoms that are mild or severe. We are seeing patients come in with fevers, chills, cough, muscle aches, and increasingly sore throats.

If I think I’m sick, what should I do?

If you or someone in your household, particularly a child, are sick, consider staying at home and getting properly tested. That way, we know if it’s COVID, another virus or a bacterial infection.

Many pharmacies are still offering COVID-19 testing or have over the counter tests you can buy and take the test at home. You can also call your primary care provider to get tested. After the test, contact your doctor and they can advise you on treatment options or if additional testing is needed.

If I have COVID-19, how can I make sure other people don’t catch it?

If you’re sick, stay home. Try to avoid being around other people as much as possible. Consider wearing a facemask if you must be near others or go into a crowded public place.

It’s never a bad idea to keep washing your hands with soap and water, for at least 20 to 30 seconds. Use tissue paper or your elbow to cover your cough or sneeze.

Usually, we hear about a spike in respiratory illnesses in the winter. Why are we seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases now?

It’s not uncommon for there to be more COVID-19 cases in the summer; we saw similar trends each summer since 2020. COVID-19 is constantly changing into new variants which makes it easier to spread all year long. Protection from vaccines also declines over time, with most people getting the most updated shots in the fall.

Over the summer months, people tend to spend time inside in the air conditioning because it’s warm outside or traveling in airports. These closed off, crowded spaces make it easier for illnesses to spread, much like in the winter when people spend more time indoors.

When can I get the new COVID-19 vaccine?

The COVID-19 vaccine that currently exists is outdated, but the new vaccine will be available in the coming two to three weeks and it should cover the new variants.

Similar to flu shots, we are encouraging patients to get the COVID-19 vaccine each year. The best proven way to protect yourself from getting severely sick is by getting vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine also reduces your chances of suffering from Long COVID.

The CDC is recommending everyone who is 6 months old and older get the updated COVID-19 vaccine before the fall and winter, when respiratory illnesses spread the most. You can get the new shot even if you’ve never had a COVID-19 vaccine. It will be available from Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer.

When should I get the vaccine if I recently had COVID-19? 

If you currently have COVID-19, you should wait to get vaccinated to avoid potentially exposing others to the virus. Your primary care provider knows your health history, so be sure to talk to them if you have any questions about getting the vaccine and your personal health.

According to the CDC, you may consider delaying your shot by 3 months if you were recently sick with COVID-19. If you or your child have multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS), you should wait to get vaccinated until recovering from being sick or it's been 90 days since being diagnosed with MIS-A or MIS-C.

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