AUGUSTA, Maine — Wastewater reports and hospitalization rates locally and in nearby areas such as Boston may be be mirroring an increase in COVID cases seen in the United Kingdom several weeks ago.

In a series of tweets Tuesday, Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, encouraged Mainers to do all they can to prepare for an increase in numbers and make a plan in case they do catch COVID-19.

The most recent wastewater surveillance results showed "uniform increases in viral levels across the state," Shah said, in part.