COVID-19 numbers are rising in southwest Florida. From May to June, Lee and Collier counties saw the number of cases more than double.
"The CDC says that COVID doesn't have seasonality, but actually it has bi-seasonality," Dr. Mary Beth Saunders, system medical director of epidemiology at Lee Health, said. "We're seeing we see spikes in the winter and we see spikes then again in the summertime."
Saunders reported Lee Health is seeing few hospitalizations or ICU patients.
NCH shared the following statement:
NCH Emergency Departments (ED) have seen a rise in patients presenting with COVID-19. While we have seen a couple of severe cases that required hospitalization, the majority are mild to moderate cases of COVID where the patient can recuperate safely at home.
Dr. Saunders said she's noticed several COVID-19-positive patients coming in with a sore throat.
"'I'm seeing a lot of folks are like, Oh, I think it's my allergies. I just have a little sore throat, and the next thing you know; they have more symptoms. So, I would say watch out for that sore throat symptom. It may not be just allergies and post-nasal drainage," Saunders said.
You can find the latest statistics on Florida COVID-19 cases here .