Expert discusses rising Covid cases and new variant in West Tennessee

July 11, 2024

Ryan Brooks,

JACKSON, Tenn. — There’s a spike in Covid cases within Tennessee and a new variant of the disease is part of a growing issue.

With news strains of Covid-19 and the flu hitting West Tennessee there is urgent concern for what to do to stay proactive in overall health and wellness. Covid-19 infections are growing across the majority of the United States in more than 30 states including Tennessee.

“We still need to continue to practice basic hand hygiene. The core hygiene practices such as hand washing. Making sure even as simple as you know. If you know that you’re ill. Staying at home. Making sure that your evaluated by your primary care provider even to. You know if you suspect that you have symptoms of the Covid variant,” said Lakeshia Yarbrough, Doctor for the Cardiovascular Clinic of West Tennessee.

With the new kp3 Covid strain you can expect symptoms anywhere from shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, sore throat or even aches in muscles or body. It’s described as a mutation from the initial Covid disease. Dr. Yarbrough doesn’t see this problem slowing down anytime soon.

“This is definitely not going away, and my projection is there will be more strains of the Covid variant,” said Yarbrough.

Even though Covid is not making headlines people still need to be aware of the risk of catching it or having it and not knowing they are contagious.

“It can happen to anyone and I think that everyone has this attitude that ‘it can’t happen to me.’ When in reality anyone can contract a virus. Anyone can become ill,” said Yarbrough.

Keeping up with the CDC guidelines and adhering to them puts everyone in position to prioritize their health and others.

“It’s important that you’re keeping up with the CDC guidelines. They’re informing you on what you should do. They’re informing you on the precautionary measures that you should take. I guess the biggest concern for me is people not taking this seriously,” said Yarbrough.

The days of wearing a mask and practicing social distancing may not be behind us yet. According to a CDC spokesperson, KP3 is projected to continue increasing as proportions of the variants that cause Covid-19.

As previously reported by USA TODAY, the CDC has not said if KP.3 has its own specific symptoms. Norman said the symptoms associated with KP.3 are similar to those from JN.1.

According to the CDC, symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2-14 days after being exposed to the virus. Possible symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe and can include the following: