Alabama doctors discuss uptick in COVID-19 cases

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — Concerns about the uptick in COVID-19 cases have state officials and local doctors paying attention to the different symptoms in a new strain of COVID-19 compared to past years.

This comes on the heels of President Joe Biden testing positive for COVID-19 Wednesday.

“I was on the first line in 2020 when the world closed in February of 2020,” said Dr. Nicol Pettway with St. Vincent’s Urgent Care in Vestavia Hills. “And actually, a big difference in what I’m seeing now is people aren’t nearly as sick, even people who have not had the COVID vaccine.”

Pettway said with vacation season, many people have come back home with COVID-19.

Alabama Department of Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Landers said while you might not lose taste or smell, there are a few warning signs.

“You could see mild fever, stuffy nose, cough, those kinds of symptoms,” Landers said. “Maybe a little bit of fatigue or malaise. So again, you can see this with other respiratory viruses.”

Landers also said senior citizens and those with immunocompromising conditions are most susceptible.

“So I remind people to be COVID aware,” Landers said. “Everyone has heard about COVID now for four and a half years, and they’re really, really tired of it. But it’s one of those respiratory viruses that’s just going to be with us.”

Pettway said people are not testing frequently for COVID-19, and when they do, they don’t go up far enough in their nose.

“The home test kits — some of them have expired,” Pettway said. “Because I don’t think many people have received emails about getting the newer ones from the government, which they did apparently start doing again.”

Pettway said if you think you are sick, don’t wait. The sooner you can see a doctor, the better.

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