COVID-19 is rising across the US again. Doctors have been reporting an increase in patients testing positive through the summer. But some physicians are noticing a change in how the illness is presenting. Reports have emerged stating that COVID is resurfacing with new symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. The CDC's latest respiratory illness data, updated August 21, shows that national and regional COVID-19 activity is increasing, although overall acute respiratory illness causing people to seek healthcare remains very low. COVID-19-related visits to the emergency room are also increasing. Recent reports from doctors in Georgia describe patients arriving with gastrointestinal symptoms alongside, or sometimes instead of, the more familiar respiratory symptoms. Nausea, Vomiting And Diarrhoea Are Uncommon COVID Symptoms Although these symptoms may seem unusual compared with the classic COVID presentation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are not new symptoms of COVID-19. The CDC has included nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea among the possible symptoms of COVID-19 for years. What appears to be attracting attention now is that some doctors are seeing more patients presenting with these gastrointestinal symptoms during the current summer rise. Dr James Black, medical director of emergency services at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia, said doctors are still seeing fever, cough and upper-respiratory symptoms, but added, “A lot of people are coming in with gastrointestinal symptoms - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes to the point of mild dehydration.”Also read: Exclusive With Leading Pulmonologist: When Should You Worry About H1N1 Symptoms? Why COVID Affects The Digestive System? SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects the respiratory system, but the virus can also affect the gastrointestinal tract. The digestive system contains ACE2 receptors, which the virus can use to enter cells. Infection and the body's inflammatory response can therefore contribute to symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Gastrointestinal symptoms can occur with respiratory symptoms or sometimes before them, which can make COVID harder to distinguish from stomach infections or food poisoning. That is why doctors say testing remains essential, especially when COVID is active in a certain area.Also read: ‘Scromiting’: Cannabis-Linked Vomiting Cases Rising Again In US, Says CDC ReportWhat Are The Other Symptoms? Doctors say people should not focus only on gastrointestinal symptoms. Common COVID symptoms include: Fever or chills Cough Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Fatigue Headache Muscle or body aches Shortness of breath Nausea or vomiting Diarrhoea Also read: US CDC Says COVID ‘Growing’ In Nearly Every State: What You Should KnowWhen Should You Take A COVID Test? If nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea occur alongside fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, fatigue or body aches, COVID should be considered, particularly when infections are increasing in the community. Testing can be especially important for people at higher risk of severe disease because antiviral treatment works best when started early. Dr Gurinder Singh Sidhu, US antiviral medical lead and senior director at Pfizer, said, "People at higher risk should seek medical advice promptly rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe." Severe vomiting or diarrhoea can also cause dehydration, so people should seek medical care if they cannot keep fluids down, are becoming unusually weak or dizzy, are urinating much less than usual, or develop breathing difficulties.