WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – There’s a surge in summer sickness in North Carolina.

Health officials say with so much travel, it’s not uncommon. But they do say it’s important to know what symptoms to look out for, and what protocol to follow, especially when it comes to COVID.

Michelle McGrath who is with new Hanover County’s Health and Human Services says COVID, however, is no longer a reportable sickness. So how do officials know there’s an uptick?

“We are seeing that really through watching hospital admissions for respiratory-like illnesses and also emergency department visits,” said McGrath.

The state health department is also testing wastewater samples from select treatment plants to better understand COVID.

Health officials say those samples, also show an increase. Rand Pennington, a nurse practitioner at Novant Health says there are symptoms to look out for.

“We’re seeing a lot of patients present with upper respiratory symptoms. Specifically runny nose, coughs, headaches, pretty rapid onset,” said Pennington.

McGrath says the protocol for testing positive for COVID isn’t what it was a couple of years ago, but there are still guidelines.

“Consider wearing a mask for five days after [you] test positive but the best guidance is to stay home when you’re sick,” said McGrath.

If you’ve been sick, doctors say you can return to normal activities after your symptoms and/or fever have been gone for 24 hours, without fever-reducing medication.

To avoid being sick altogether, health officials say to wash your hands often, distance yourself from crowds, and stay home if you’re not feeling well.

McGrath says if you come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID, you don’t need to isolate, a difference from just a couple of years ago.

McGrath also says that at-home tests and being tested in a lab or doctor’s office are both accurate and if you see a difference in tests it’s likely just because of when you take the test.

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