COVID-19 anecdotally has been making a comeback, but the data from the Georgia Department of Public Health only shows a slight increase in figures from June through the present, and nothing compared to the figures that have been seen in the heights of the pandemic.

Based on the data still being provided by the Department of Public Health on a weekly basis, the number of cases have only been going up for those reported on a small scale compared to the highest figures in 2022 of 145 cases reported at a time, or the start of the pandemic in 2020 when cases were being reported daily in the dozens.

Figures published in recent weeks throughout the summer by the DPH had cases – combined PCR and Antigen testing in doctor’s offices or by labs – reached 137 confirmed cases at the beginning of August. Numbers went down, then increased again to 97 total cases by August 9.

The figures have trended downward, but reports of cases of COVID have been anecdotally reported to Polk Today over the past weeks as well.

EG.5 is the latest variant of the virus that has impacted the world since it was first reported as spreading in December 2019. The variant is a strain that started its family tree back in the Omicron variant days of Fall 2022 has now become a highly transmissible blip in the otherwise low rates of COVID infections reported to DPH.

Dr. Gary Voccio, who heads up the DPH’s Northwest Georgia Health District, said that he’s been tracking data for the past weeks and noted the increase not only in new cases, but hospitalizations.

What’s driving the increase here in Georgia and nationwide? The recent heat wave, and the latest variant’s spike protein.

“This is a very transmissible virus and very contagious,” he said.

It does come with some good news: “It doesn’t seem to be causing a significant amount of mortality or death, but it is very contagious,” Voccio added.

The latest EG.5 variant thus far has been causing the most hospitalizations in Georgia and around Polk in populations over 70 and those immunocompromised or deficient for various reasons.

The additional good news? A new vaccine variant is right around the corner and per guidance provided to Voccio should be coming in September.

Overall, Polk County has a reported figure of 11,172 cases of the virus confirmed and reported to the DPH. The number of deaths since 2020 stands at 181, with 36 additional that have been labeled as “probable deaths.”

Statewide, the number of cases reported was at 5,113 additional, with another 13 deaths added to the overall tally.

All of these figures are a week old – as of August 23 – since the health emergency ran out in May 2023 and the DPH shifted away from daily reporting.

COVID-19 precautions and vaccination are still the best way to prevent from getting the virus, which is getting much better overall as the strains mutate and become less deadly, better than the 20% mortality rates at the beginning of the pandemic when nothing was known about the virus or how to battle its effects.

However Voccio made one thing clear: COVID-19 is here to stay. It might be easier to manage and vaccines will certainly be a stopgap against high rates of infection, just like with the various flu viruses that spread around the globe.

But to be clear: “It’s never going to go away,” he said.

Keep track of information about COVID-19’s symptoms and what to do about it on the CDC website and the DPH website.