New COVID variant could soon impact Northeast Arkansas

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - A new COVID variant is making the rounds in the northern United States and doctors believe it may not be long until people start seeing the effects in Northeast Arkansas.

According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EG.5 was responsible for around 20% of cases of COVID-19 in the United States at the end of the third week of August.

In Northeast Arkansas, doctors have taken notice.

Dr. Cole Wood is an infectious disease physician with St. Bernards Medical Center. While cases are low now, he expects that could change.

“We are seeing an uptick in cases, so as we lag behind the national uptick in cases that are going on right now, we think it is because we are seeing trickle down from the new variant,” Wood said.

Wood said with the start of school as well, they expect to see the numbers rise and encourage people to be safe and stay home if they do not feel well.