KEENE, NH – Local residents are being urged to take precautions as respiratory illnesses make their way around the community.

In a notification on Friday officials in Keene said local wastewater is tested to monitor the prevalence of viruses that cause COVID-19, the flu, and RSV. Recent reports from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services indicate that levels are increasing in the Monadnock Region.

The city is urging residents to follow CDC guidelines to prevent getting sick and spreading the viruses. Those guidelines include staying up to date on vaccines, seeking testing and treatment, keeping your hands clean, staying home when you’re sick, and wearing a mask.

For information on where to get a COVID-19 vaccine, visit vaccines.gov.