Respiratory Illnesses on the Rise Across the U.S. – What You Should Do

As we start the new year, tens of thousands of people are being admitted to hospitals across the country as COVID-19, influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) cases surge.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that during the week of December 23, there were more than 29,000 patients admitted to hospitals with COVID-19, about 15,000 admitted with the flu and thousands more with RSV.

CDC data shows COVID-19 is currently the leading cause of respiratory illnesses with emergency department visits up 12%, hospitalizations up 17% and the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 up 10%. There have been at least 7.1 million people sick with the flu, 73,000 hospitalizations, and 4,500 deaths from influenza so far this season. RSV illnesses seem to be slowing down in some regions, but hospitalizations are up, especially in cases involving young children and older adults. And to add to the danger, pneumococcal pneumonia is worsening some cases.

Some experts predict the numbers may go even higher due to the many gatherings of friends and families during the recent holidays.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO To help protect yourself, stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. It’s not too late to get your flu vaccine. There are RSV immunizations available for infants, and if you are age 60 or older, there is a vaccine available to protect you from severe RSV.

There are treatments available for COVID-19 ─ these should be started within five to seven days after you first develop symptoms. There also are prescription drugs to treat flu illness which should be started as early as possible and are especially important for higher risk patients.

Free COVID-19 tests are also available; every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home tests. You can order here.

Follow these steps to help prevent getting sick:

• Stay home if you are sick.

• Stay home if you have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.

• Avoid contact with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your shirt sleeve, not your hands.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with others, such as kissing, shaking hands and sharing cups and eating utensils.

• Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices.

• Many medical facilities are again requiring masks. The World Health Organization says masks can be part of your regimen, in addition to avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, proper handwashing and covering your coughs and sneezes.