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New variant: COVID-19 cases rising across North Carolina

A computer rendering of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Radoslav Zilinsky
/
Getty Images
A computer rendering of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

COVID-19 cases are rising again, with a new variant called EG.5 or “Eris” spreading across the state.

The variant is trending upwards in the most recent wastewater surveillance by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, as are the number of hospitalizations and emergency department visits.

The CDC says positive COVID-19 tests and hospitalizations have continued to grow in the last week across the United States.

Annette is an award-winning journalist based in Eastern North Carolina. Her career includes professional stops across the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast, recently culminating in a 2026 Region 8 Edward R. Murrow Award for Small Market Radio Best News Series for her work on the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Series. Guided by a passion for human-interest storytelling, she focuses on narratives that touch hearts and connect communities. A mother of four and grandmother of two, Annette enjoys reading and creating epic Halloween costumes in her spare time. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.