WXII 12 NEWS. CHRISTINE: MARIA, THANK YOU. A LOCAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT SAYS COVID-19 CASES ARE SLOWLY DROPPING IN THE PIEDMONT TRIAD. DOCTOR CHRISTOPHER OHL, WITH ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST, GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE VIRUS THIS MORNING. HE SAYS CASES IN OUR AREA ARE FALLING, AS ARE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS BEING TREATED FOR COVID-19 IN THE HOSPITAL. DOCTOR OHL SAYS THOSE TRENDS ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE IN THE FALL, WITH ONE CAVEAT. >> SOMETHING THAT WILL PUT THE BRAKES ON IT GOING DOWN PROBABLY IS GOING TO BE OUR KIDS IN SCHOOLS. KIDS SHARE VIRUSES PRETTY EASILY IN SCHOOLS. PARTICULARLY ALL THE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES. COVID IN ONE OF THEM. CHRISTINE: DOCTOR OHL SAYS IF YOUR CHILD GETS COLD-LIKE SYMPTOMS, YOU SHOULD KEEP THEM AT HOME FOR A DAY OR SO, AND THEN HAVE YOUR CHILD TESTED FOR COVID. IF IT COMES BACK POSITIVE, CHILDREN SHOULD STAY OUT OF SCHOOL FOR FIVE DAYS FROM THE DAY OF THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS. NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH LEADERS SAY THERE’S BEEN AN UP-TICK IN COVID-19 PARTICLES FOUND IN IN THE LATEST WEEKLY UPDATE, DHHS SAYS THERE WAS A 4% INCREASE IN VIRUS PARTICLES AND WASTEWATER. BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS EMERGENCY , ROOM VISITS, HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS, AND REPORTED COVID CASES BY WEEK, ARE ALL TRENDING DOWN. LINDSAY: A GREENSBORO BOJANGLES IS BEING SUED BY THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION FOR RE-TALIATING AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE WHO REPORTED SHE WAS SEXUALLY HARASSED. THE EEOC LAWSUIT SAYS BETWEEN MARCH AND JUNE OF 2020. -- 2020, A GENERAL MANAGER MADE INAPPROPRIATE REMARKS AND TOUCHED AND GRABBED THE EMPLOYEE. WHEN THAT WORKER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HARASSMENT, THE EMPLOYEE WAS DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THE EEOC IS SEEKING BACK PAY AND DAMAGES FOR THE EMPLOYEE. NATURAL GAS WORKERS ARE GETTING A CHANCE TO SHOW OFF THEIR SKILLS. SEE HOW THEY’RE GETTING READY FOR THE NATIONAL GAS RODEO. COMING UP. CHRISTINE: AND ANOTHER DAY OF SWELTERING HEAT OUT WEST. HOW PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS FROM GOING OUT, NEXT. >> WE HAVE GOT A COUPLE OF SHOWERS LEFT OUT THERE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING. WE WILL TRY OUT SOON. WE HAVE A RAINY FORECAST WITH A VIDEO IN THE TROPICS.