Cases of COVID-19 have gone up this summer, but locally our numbers are still low

PEORIA, Ill. – With COVID-19 cases rising slightly nationally, a local health expert says there’s no need to panic.

Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows the highest COVID-19  numbers right now are in the Southwest.

But, locally, Dr. Doug Kasper says we’re seeing far less hospitalizations than we saw at various points in the past two years. 

But, Kasper tells WMBD’s “Greg and Dan Show”, if you’re at a greater risk of getting sick, there are new boosters in the works.

“They’ve been updated off an Omicron strain. So, that would be one option available…there will also be the seasonal Influenza vaccine that will be available sometime in September, through the fall,” Kasper says. 

It’s really up to each person to decide how aggressive they want to be with their care going forward.

“There’s going to be three really good vaccine options to fight these viral infections, and there are also some treatment options. So, even further proving this, is that the FDA announced a RSV vaccine for third-trimester pregnant women, to help protect their unborn babies from the virus” Kasper says.

The Biden administration is expected to make a push for the new COVID-19 vaccines next month.