Back to school and cooler temperatures mean some respiratory illnesses are on the rise.
According to Drakos Urgent Care Physician Associate Michelle Ederer, COVID cases are on the rise in central New York.
"We are definitely seeing a peak in the number of cases just since the start of the school year in September," Ederer said. "A lot of it has to do with sharing close spaces and obviously communities coming back together and we are definitely seeing an increased number.
She says the uptick in case numbers was expected, with the back-to-school season and regular respiratory illness season coming up. But, Ederer said so far cases have been manageable.
"The most common symptoms right now are going to be a headache, with fever, scratchy throat and fatigue," Ederer said. "Many of our children are tolerating it quite well and present much like a cold or common cold symptoms."
She says despite COVID cases being up, influenza has not yet been a cause for concern. Ederer said there are steps that families can take to help prevent illness.
"Making sure they have adequate sleep, to support their immune systems, making sure they are washing their hands frequently, guiding children and adults on the importance of not going to social situations where they may have a febrile illness and stay home until those symptoms have resolved for at least 24 hours, is important at trying to help mitigate the spread of COIVD and other respiratory illnesses such as influenza and RSV," Ederer said.
