HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Kids in the valley are back to school and COVID is as well.

The Virginia Department of Health says COVID-19 is on the rise. They report a 54-percent increase from the week of August 4 to August 10.

They also say hospitalizations are up, but health officials say COVID cases in children usually are asymptomatic and mild.

And the likelihood of a child being hospitalized due to COVID is low.

Doctors are continuing to remind parents to vaccinate their children on time.

While cases are on the rise, deaths are not.