New COVID

Cases began to rise nationwide in July

Cases began to rise nationwide in July

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Cases began to rise nationwide in July

COVID-19 is making a summer comeback.

“This latest (variant) is nicknamed Eris for one of the Greek goddesses. It’s also referred to as EG.5,” said Dr. Steve Threlkeld, infectious disease specialist at Baptist Medical Systems.

COVID-19 cases began to rise again nationwide in July as summertime travel ramped up and as people were pushed inside because of the heat, Threlkeld said.

“For the past few weeks, we have seen an uptick in cases. Certainly a few, even serious cases in the ICU,” Threlkeld said.

But what local doctors are saying this time is that the Eris variant-positive patients in recent weeks aren’t as sick as they were during previous waves.

“Thankfully, our brick wall of immunity we have built over having it several times, plus the vaccine that we have had, made this a much less severe disease,” Threlkeld said.

Threlkeld said Mississippians should still take precautions, especially as students head back to school.

“School has obviously been a controversial topic throughout this pandemic,” Threlkeld said. “We need kids in school, but common sense of, there is a larger surge really spreading through a given class, there might be times when masks would be appropriate in those situations.”

Threlkeld said those affected the most will be people with underlying conditions. He said to best protect people around you if you’re sick, is to wear a mask or get vaccinated.

Threlkeld says a new vaccination is expected to come out this fall to best protect against the Omicron variant. He says the new variant Eris is a sub-variant of Omicron.