SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Symptoms associated with a cold, the flu or an upper respiratory infection are part of early October’s story.
“I think there’s more out there than has been throughout the summer,” Dr. Jeremy Cauwels, chief medical officer with Sanford Health, said Thursday.
Cauwels brings up a factor from beyond the Midwest.
“I would say there’s a lot going around,” he said. “The other thing that does play into this is another variant of COVID did hit the coasts about a month ago, and it was associated with a fairly intense sore throat. And so, many people that I’ve talked to have been coming down with sore throats or other upper respiratory things.”
The current warm weather may prompt time spent outside, and Cauwels says to take advantage of these temperatures.
“I would say first and foremost, being outside is never a problem,” Cauwels said. “By all means, get outside, enjoy the fresh air. I think the other part you can do is if you know you’re going to be interacting with a lot of people or even just a few people, a little bit of antibacterial hand sanitizer or washing your hands is always a good idea.”
Cauwels also says it’s a good idea for someone feeling under the weather to reach out to his or her provider.
