LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Even though COVID isn't talked about every day like it was about two or three years ago, it is still prevalent.
President Biden himself is fighting the virus right now along with many other Americans.
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that Arkansas is one of seven states that are ranked in the "very high" category for COVID wastewater viral activity.
One local doctor said he's noticed it picking up again and reminds us to not let our guard down.
"Most of the activity that we're seeing is in our ambulatory clinics. So patients are coming into our urgent care clinics to their family doctor, with thankfully fairly mild symptoms," said Dr. Douglas Ross, President of CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs.
Dr. Ross explained how most of the current COVID cases they've been seeing are like a bad summer cold.
"We do have from time to time a patient that gets admitted to the hospital, but typically it's a patient that has maybe a lot of underlying risk factors, maybe some underlying lung disease or cancer or something along those lines," Dr. Ross added.
Since the beginning of May, the CDC data shows an upward trend of COVID in wastewater.
"COVID tends to have kind of these peaks and valleys at atypical times. So I think, I think the important news is that we still need to be prepared for those we still need to be aware that COVID is out there. It's not gone," he said.
He also said that it's especially important to remember as people continue to travel for the summer and with the new school year right around the corner.
"I think just having some common sense and really even rewinding for what we've done with flu, and colds for years, you know. COVID is spread very similarly. And I think having, having our radar for that will be very helpful," Dr. Ross said.
Although the demand for the booster shot has gone down, he still recommends it, especially for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
"Those are the patient populations that, if you do get COVID, are going to lend themselves to more severe disease, and that booster is certainly going to take the edge off of that," he explained.
According to the Arkansas Department of Health's COVID dashboard, statewide, we've had 52 COVID hospitalizations that were reported within the last seven days.