MARSHALL — Minnesota has seen a rise in COVID cases over the past few weeks, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the data doesn’t point to a dramatic increase in the Marshall area, Dr. Timothy Mok, chief medical officer at Avera Medical Group Marshall, said it does match what he’s seeing locally.

“Most recently, we did see a little bit of an increase in the number of cases, at least coming through our urgent care clinic,” Mok said Friday. “I don’t think we’ve seen any major trend, but there’s definitely a few more cases in the past couple of weeks.”

While Brown County COVID numbers have not been tracked since at-home test kits were introduced, New Ulm Medical Center Medical Director Dr. Bryana Andert also reported an uptick in COVID cases in the past two weeks.

“We’ve seen an increase in COVID cases, but most people had mild symptoms, are being managed on an outpatient basis and were not hospitalized,” said Andert.

Preliminary data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows that hospitalization rates for COVID rose in June and the first half of July. Statewide, the seven-day moving average of COVID hospitalizations went from about 8 on June 8, to 25 on July 13.

Last week, the COVID hospitalization counts didn’t include any Lyon County residents, MDH data said. There was one reported hospitalization for a Pipestone County resident, one for a Renville County resident, and one for a Brown County resident. Last week, there was one reported COVID death, of a Nobles County resident.

According to data posted July 29 on the CDC’s website, reported COVID numbers have climbed nationally in recent weeks. COVID deaths rose 10%, emergency department visits climbed 13.5% and positive tests rose 1.3% nationally from the previous week.

Another way to look at levels of COVID comes from the CDC’s wastewater surveillance data. The data tracks the level of COVID virus present in the wastewater at treatment plants around the U.S.

Nationwide, wastewater viral activity has been rising since May, CDC data said. In Minnesota, data for wastewater plants in Kandiyohi, Lyon, Nobles and Blue Earth counties all show an increase in COVID concentrations between May 31 and July 29. But while the plants in Nobles, Kandiyohi and Blue Earth counties showed a sharper increase in COVID concentrations in June and July, Lyon County’s increase was lower and steadier.

“So this is actually checking the wastewater plant just a couple of miles away (in Marshall),” Mok said of the Lyon County data. The “bump” in COVID levels in wastewater correlated with the slight uptick in cases in the past three weeks, he said. “This is pretty reflective of what we’re seeing in the clinics.”

“So we haven’t seen a gigantic jump yet. But ultimately, now that we’re heading into the fall, that’s always kind of one of the concerns,” Mok said. Fall is when school starts, and there are a lot more indoor activities going on. “The chance for spread is going to be much higher.”

“We always still recommend the CDC guidelines. If you’re sick, stay home, stay away from people,” he said. “If you have to be around people, wear a mask. Things like general hygienic guidelines, like good hand hygiene.”

Mok and Andert encouraged people who feel sick to take a COVID test. At-home tests are available, as well as tests at urgent care clinics, Mok said.

Andert said COVID-19 symptoms can be tricky.

“They’re all over the board. Some may appear as a sinus infection, ear pain, sore throat, pink eye, fever, fatigue or respiratory things like a cough, shortness of breath but not respiratory distress causing people to go to the hospital,” Andert added.

Mok said the CDC guidelines on when people with COVID can return to regular activities has been updated since March.

“Right now, the recommendation is that you can go back to your normal activity after 24 hours, if your symptoms are improving and you no longer have a fever without temperature-lowering medication such as Tylenol or Advil,” Mok said. “But even if you’re feeling better, they’re still recommending five days of masking, proper hygiene, and all the stuff that you can do to prevent potential spread.”

Getting vaccinated for respiratory viruses like COVID and influenza is also an important way to help prevent severe illness.

“The 2024-25 season of the flu vaccine and the COVID vaccine will be available soon. It’s expected sometime in the fall,” Mok said. “With the COVID vaccine, as long as you’re over six months of age, they are recommending age-appropriate dosing.”

While there are lots of ways to help prevent the spread of COVID, there are also treatment options available for people who do get sick, Mok said. Those treatments include oral medications like Paxlovid and molnupiravir.

If people have questions or concerns about a respiratory illness or symptoms, they should reach out, Mok said.

“Seek medical care if you have a concern,” he said.

— Fritz Busch contributed to this story