ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) - COVID-19 cases are climbing again in Central Louisiana, according to Dr. Brent Arnold, ER Medical Director at Rapides Regional Medical Center. Dr. Arnold said more people are getting sick, but most cases are still mild, and hospitalizations remain low for now.

“We haven’t seen a big jump in hospital stays or serious cases needing ICU care,” Dr. Arnold said.

Dr. Arnold explained that COVID-19 usually spikes a couple of times each year, typically in late summer and again in the winter. He said they started noticing a rise in cases at the end of July.

“We normally prepare for a rise during the cold and flu season, which is usually October through December, but this year we saw the COVID increase begin earlier,” he said.

With schools reopening, Rapides Regional

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