Category: Covid-19

The United States is in the middle of a wintertime COVID wave, driven by holiday gatherings, people spending more time inside, waning immunity from low uptake of the new COVID vaccine and a new highly infectious COVID variant, JN.1.

The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention released an update on Jan. 5 about the prevalence of JN.1, explaining that the new variant may be "intensifying the spread of COVID-19 this winter." Test positivity and wastewater data show that viral activity in the U.S. is higher than this time last year, with wastewater data especially rising rapidly the past several weeks. (COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations are still lower than last year, the CDC noted.)

A viral social media post based on data from the CDC is calling this surge the second-biggest COVID wave in the history of the U.S. after the omicron surge from late 2021 to early 2022, which infected more people than even the early days of the pandemic.

Lucky Tran, Ph.D., science communicator at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, compiled the CDC data into a graph, which has been shared widely on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Tran also said in his post that projections show as many as 1 in 3 people in the U.S. could be infected with COVID during the peak months of the current wave and up to 2 million people could be infected in a single day data he attributed to Michael Hoerger, Ph.D., assistant professor at Tulane University School of Medicine who leads the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative's data tracker.

Tran tells TODAY.com he was motivated to share the data on the current levels of virus circulating because "many people underestimate just how much virus is around," and that research shows once people are aware of the real levels, "they (are) more willing to wear a mask, social distance when required, to stay home and get vaccinated and take all of those measures. That's why it's so important to do this."

Yes, the U.S. is in the middle of a COVID wave, multiple experts tell TODAY.com.

A CDC chart of national and regional COVID trends in wastewater shows the national viral activity rate of 12.85 from the week ending Dec. 30, 2023 (the most recent data available) is higher than anything seen since January 2022, as far back as the publicly available CDC data goes. The national rate for the week ending Jan. 15, 2022, was 22.78.

CDC spokesperson Tom Skinner tells TODAY.com via email that "COVID 19 in wastewater is currently (at) very high levels across the country."

"Last year, the peak of infections occurred in late December, early January. We are seeing early evidence of the same timing this year, but we will continue to monitor closely," Skinner continues.

"These levels are much lower than the Omicron wave in early 2022," he says, adding that JN.1 is the most frequently detected variant in wastewater. Skinner did not specify if the current COVID wave is the country's second-largest.

The CDC noted in its Jan. 5 statement that wastewater and test positivity data are both higher than the year before by about 27% and 17% respectively. It added that wastewater levels "are currently high and increasing in all regions."

Hoerger tells TODAY.com that based on the wastewater data collected from Biobot Analytics (which used to provide the CDC its wastewater data), the U.S. is in its second-largest COVID surge. He says his own predictive model indicates cases will continue to rise until mid-February. He estimates that mid-December 2023 to mid-February 2024 will be the peak of the current wave and that 1 in 3 Americans will be infected with COVID during this timeframe.

He says his data also show that on the highest day of the current wave, there will be 2 million new COVID cases, which would lend to many more infections than last winter, which had its highest day of about 1.7 million new infections. While CDC data suggest viral activity levels have been similar the last two Decembers, Hoerger explains that the acceleration in COVID activity in 2023 was faster than in 2022, suggesting there will be a higher peak this season.

"I think people can get a little bit too concerned about the height of the peak," Hoerger says. "What's really troubling is just the total number of days with a really high transmission based on my model or if you're just looking at the wastewater."

Dr. Albert Ko, infectious disease physician and professor of public health, epidemiology and medicine at Yale School of Public Health, agrees that focusing on peaks isn't as helpful as stressing that COVID is spreading widely in much of the country right now.

"More important than saying this is more than the last wave or two waves or three waves ago ... is that we are getting into surge, and the public should be aware about how to protect themselves," Ko tells TODAY.com.

A surge this time of year is expected, Dr. William Schaffner, infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells TODAY.com, and it's perfectly reasonable to call the current COVID wave the countrys second-largest, he says.

But I dont want to panic people, he explains. This winter increase is not going to be akin to the previous winter increases, which really stressed hospitals," though it is likely to keep medical professionals "very busy," he adds.

Tran stresses that it's important to understand the burden of COVID beyond hospitalizations and deaths being lower than they were earlier in the pandemic.

"While we're not seeing the same levels of hospitalizations or deaths as 2020 or 2021, it's still a very high baseline compared with before the pandemic, and that's something that we should still care about," Tran says. He adds that more virus circulating can also lead to increases in long COVID and chronic illness, more people (especially health care workers) missing work and other important events, and immunocompromised people not being able to access essential services, like health care.

Amid a rise in COVID cases, as well as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), masks mandates have returned in medical settings in several states, Reuters reported:

But even if you're not required to mask, the experts say that now is a good time to wear your N95 or KN95.

"Get your mask out again if you're going indoors, even to the supermarket," Schaffner says. "Certainly if you're traveling, going to religious services, going to that basketball game, where everybody's close together and cheering, those are environments where the virus can spread."

The new COVID variant JN.1 is responsible for more than 61% of cases in the U.S. as of the week ending Jan. 6, 2024, according to CDC data. The variant may be more transmissible or better at evading immune protection than previous COVID variants, TODAY.com previously reported.

It also appears to be "intensifying" the spread of COVID this winter, the CDC said in a statement. That said, JN.1 doesn't seem to cause more severe illness than previous variants.

The symptoms you'll experience if infected by the latest COVID variant, JN.1, will depend on your underlying health and immunity. But generally speaking JN.1 symptoms are similar to those caused by other variants, such as HV.1 and BA.2.86, aka Pirola.

According to the CDC, these are:

The experts all agree that the current rate of new COVID cases means it's time to take precautions to prevent further spread. This is especially important for individuals who are at high risk for severe illness, such as the elderly and immunocompromised.

But even if you or loved ones don't fall into this category, by taking precautions, you can prevent spreading the virus to someone who may get much sicker than you and reduce your risk of long COVID.

So, the experts urge:

It's tempting to think the pandemic is over, but Hoerger stresses that data show it isn't. In fact, a leading World Health Organization official recently posted on X that we're heading into the fifth year of the pandemic.

"The bottom line," Ko says, "is everybody should consider themselves under risk of getting COVID.

Maura Hohman is the senior health editor for TODAY.com and has been covering health and wellness news and trends since 2015, when she graduated from j

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Is a 2024 COVID Wave Hitting the U.S.? Here's What Experts Say - TODAY

More U.S. hospitals are requiring masks and limiting visitors as health officials face an expected but still nasty post-holiday spike in flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses.

While many experts say this season likely wont prove to be as deadly as some other recent winters, it still could mean hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and many thousands of deaths across the country.

New York City last week instituted a mask mandate for the citys 11 public hospitals. Similar measures were ordered last week at some hospitals in Los Angeles and Massachusetts. Some hospitals reinstated masking rules for employees months ago, in anticipation of a seasonal rush of sick people.

Flu and COVID-19 infections have been increasing for weeks, with high levels of flu-like illness reported in 31 states just before Christmas. Updated national numbers are to be released Friday, but health officials predict infections will grow in many states well into January.

What were seeing right now, in the first week of January, is really an acceleration of flu cases, in particular, said Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There is some good news. Flu and COVID-19 cases may peak by the end of the month and then drop, Cohen said. Though the flu has been skyrocketing, this years cases are being caused by a strain that usually doesnt cause as many deaths and hospitalizations as some other versions. Whats more, signs suggest current flu vaccines are well-matched to the strain.

I dont think its going to be overwhelming, said Dr. William Schaffner, Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert. He deemed the current season moderately severe.

The CDC is pointing the public to an agencywebsitewhere people can look up their county, which can help them make decisions about whether to wear masks or take other precautions. Cohen urged people to get vaccinated and to seek treatment for flu and COVID-19.

Vaccinations are down this year, officials say. About 44% of U.S. adults had gotten flu shots by Dec. 23, according to the most recently available CDC vaccination survey data. Only about 19% of U.S. adults were reported to have received an updated COVID-19 shot as of early December.

COVID-19 cases are causing more severe disease than the flu but have been rising less dramatically. Health officials are keeping an eye on JN.1, a new version of the ever-evolving coronavirus. The omicron variant was first detected in the U.S. in September and just before Christmas accounted for an estimated 44% of COVID-19 cases.

The JN.1 variant may spread easier or be better at evading our immune systems, but there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease than other recent variants, health officials say. Current evidence indicates vaccines and antiviral medications work against it.

The CDC also has reported disappointing vaccination rates against another seasonal bug, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. That is a common cause of mild cold-like symptoms, but it can be dangerous for infants and older people. RSV cases rose in the fall but appear to have plateaued and are even going down in some places, according to the latest data.

At Hillsdale Hospital in southern Michigan, a 65% increase in respiratory illness activity in late December triggered a limitation to visitors in the birthing center. Only a spouse, a support person and grandparents can visit. They all must wear a mask and not show symptoms of sickness.

The restriction is common for the hospital around this time of year, said Dr. Nichole Ellis, a pediatrician who is the hospitals medical chief of staff. But its more difficult this season, she added.

In the past, we would have one disease that we were tracking or monitoring at one time, Ellis said. But now, babies and children will have multiple diseases at the same time. Its not that they just have RSV but theyre getting RSV and COVID at the same time, or influenza and RSV at the same time because all of the diseases are prevalent in our community.

Read more here:

Soaring COVID and flu cases, described as moderately severe in number, are prompting hospitals to restore mask mandates - Fortune

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Floridas surgeon general bucked the majority of the nations health experts Wednesday, calling for a halt to the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Joseph Ladapo said there wasnt enough evidence for the shots despite their backing from the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ladapos latest salvo, in what seems to be an ongoing war against mRNA COVID vaccines, came in the form of a news release. The states top doc recommended against the use of the, regardless of age and condition. Ladapo said there wasnt enough data on "DNA fragments" in the doses alleging a possible cancer risk, impact on pregnancy or effects on vital organs.

In statements, he said federal regulators at the FDA and CDC were reckless with safety standards and that without more data "these vaccines are not appropriate for use in human beings."

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have always played it fast and loose with COVID-19 vaccine safety," Ladapo said, "but their failure to test for DNA integration with the human genome as their own guidelines dictate when the vaccines are known to be contaminated with foreign DNA is intolerable." Since getting tapped by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for the state surgeon general job in 2021, Ladapo has steadily increased his recommendations against the shots. First, it was for those 17 and under. Then males 39 and younger. In September of last year, those under 65 were told not to get mRNA boosters. From the 2024 campaign trail, DeSantis voiced support for Ladapos latest guidance, highlighting it during an event in Iowa and calling the research on the vaccines very, very flimsy. "Theres huge issues with this they havent been honest with the public on it," DeSantis said. "Before COVID I just assumed that this was very, very rigorous but the reality is the FDA is basically a rubber stamp for the pharmaceutical industry."

Many of the nations health experts disagree with the shot criticism, including the CDC, which continues to recommend them as safe and effective. The FDA also addressed Ladapos disapproval in this December letter, telling the physician in part "with over a billion doses of the mRNA vaccines administered, no safety concerns related to residual DNA have been identified."

"Here we have the safest, most effective vaccines in history awarded the Nobel Prize," Dr. Frederick Southwick, M.D., an infectious disease specialist in Gainesville, said. "And now our Surgeon General is calling to end the use of these vaccines."

Southwick is a member of Floridas chapter of the Committee to Protect Health Care a group of medical professionals who through the pandemic advocated for shots, masking and other COVID-19 mitigation. The physician had real concerns that Ladapo was doing more harm than good with his recommendations. Southwick said the surgeon general was undermining peoples trust in the nations health institutions.

"I am concerned that they are promoting what we would call disinformation for their own political gain," Southwick said. "And that is very disappointing."

Despite the Florida surgeon generals guidance against the shots, they are still widely available from your healthcare provider and still recommended by the CDC, especially for the elderly and those with comorbidities.

Follow this link:

Florida surgeon general calls for halt to COVID-19 vaccine, defies health experts - WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm

COVID-19 rapid test kits, April 28, 2023.

Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB

Oregon was lagging a bit behind most of the country, but now its experiencing a spike in flu and COVID cases.

From Dec. 16 through Dec. 23, flu cases nearly doubled in Oregon. COVID-19 test positivity jumped by more than 50% from Dec. 16 through Dec. 30.

And from last week to this week, adults in acute care hospital beds due to COVID jumped by 30%, according to the Oregon Health Authority.

RSV season has been underway since early November, but cases have stayed relatively flat at around 11% positivity.

Related: Flu infections in Southern Oregon are the highest in the state this season

Meanwhile, the past year saw a big drop in vaccinations in the state. Less than 14% of Oregonians got the latest COVID vaccine.

Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at the Oregon Health Authoritys Public Health Division, said people may have gotten tired of hearing and thinking about respiratory viruses, but the viruses are not going away.

Theyre still very much with us and theyre putting people in the hospital every day here in Oregon, Cieslak said.

Related: Confirming the science behind COVID-19 policy recommendations

COVID-19 cases are rising statewide, he added. As far as the flu, the biggest spikes right now are in southwestern Oregon. But that, too, has made its way to every part of the state.

Cieslak noted that nearly everyone qualifies for flu and COVID vaccines. He added that there are RSV medications for children, and RSV vaccines available for people who are over 60 years old or are pregnant.

And he said good respiratory hygiene like staying home if youre sick, covering your mouth when you cough and washing your hands often can also help stop the spread of respiratory viruses.

Excerpt from:

Flu and COVID season arrives in Oregon - Oregon Public Broadcasting

Today a study published in Nature Communications describes features of the acute phase of COVID-19 infection seen in patients who later developed long COVID, and a second study in the same journal suggests that long-COVID fatigue is linked to changes to the mitochondria in muscle cells.

The first study looked at patient reported outcomes (PRO) among 590 patients with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), or what is commonly known as long COVID. These symptoms linger after the acute (first 4 weeks) phase of illness, or patients experience new symptoms after acute infections.

The study enrolled participants who were hospitalized for COVID-19 from May 5, 2020, to March 19, 2021, at 20 US hospitals. None had been vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of illness.

Blood samples and nasal swabs were collected on enrollment (day 1), and days 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after hospital admission. Patients also completed four quarterly surveys on symptoms, including upper respiratory symptoms, fever, shortness of breath, neurologic symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Half of patients had long COVID

Overall, more than half (52%) of the participants hospitalized with COVID-19 had symptoms lasting 3 months after the acute phase of infection, the authors said. Similar to other studies, long COVID was seen more often in female patients, those with longer hospital stays, and those with multiple comorbidities.

The main factors associated with PASC were chronic pulmonary disease (odds ratio [OR] 2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41 to 4.29), and chronic neurologic disorder (OR 2.13; 95% CI, 1.20 to 3.78).

A total of 245 participants (52%) had an elevated baseline C-reactive protein, and 297 (50%) had an abnormal baseline D-dimer (> 0.5mg/L) upon hospital admission. Blood samples showed that patients who reported PASC had lower receptor binding domain and spike antibody (Ab) titers on day 1 of the study.

"Our data demonstrate that higher SARS-CoV-2 viral burden and lower Ab titers during the acute phase are associated with both the physical predominant deficit as well as the multidomain deficit PRO clusters," the authors wrote.

Remdesivir not tied to lower risk

During hospitalization, 76% of participants received oxygen therapy, 68% received steroids and 64% received remdesivir.

Among the 52% of participants who reported symptoms 12 weeks post-infection and beyond, 29% reported shortness of breath, 21% reported muscle aches or pain, and 20% reported cough.

"Any use of [the antiviral drug] remdesivir and steroids in the inpatient period was not associated with a decrease in PASC prevalence," the authors found.

The authors concluded by suggesting their findings "highlight the benefit of measuring immune responses during the acute phase for the early identification of patients at high risk for PASC, which may facilitate testing and monitoring of targeted PASC prevention and treatment."

Mitochondria malfunction in long COVID patients

In the second study, investigators from Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC) sought to discover the root cause of post-exertional malaise, or extreme fatigue after physical or mental exertion, in long-COVID patients.

Limited exercise tolerance and post-exertional malaise is one of the most common features of long COVID, the authors said, but the pathophysiology of the conditions are unknown.

We saw various abnormalities in the muscle tissue of the patients.

The researchers induced post-exertional malaise in a cohort of 25 patients with long COVID and 21 controls who had recovered from mild COVID, taking blood and skeletal muscle biopsies before and after a maximal exercise test.

"We saw various abnormalities in the muscle tissue of the patients. At the cellular level, we saw that the mitochondria of the muscle, also known as the energy factories of the cell, function less well and that they produce less energy," says senior study author Rob Wust, PhD, in an Amsterdam UMC press release on the findings.

Interestingly, heart and lung function measured during the exercise test was normal in long COVID patients, further suggesting the muscles play a significant role in post-exertional malaise.

Exercise needs to be tailored for long-COVID patients, the authors said. "We advise these patients to guard their physical limits and not to exceed them," said lead author says Brent Appelman, MS, a PhD candidate at Amsterdam UMC.

"Think of light exertion that does not lead to worsening of the complaints. Walking is good, or riding an electric bike, to maintain some physical condition. Keep in mind that every patient has a different limit."

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Study describes clinical features that may lead to long COVID - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo is urging residents in the Sunshine State to stop getting the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID vaccines over what he says are DNA-related safety concerns.

Over time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reiterated that its research shows the vaccines are safe and outweigh the health risks associated with COVID.

But Ladapo's call for a halt in vaccination comes weeks after he issued a letter to the FDA last month, which questioned the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and whether the mRNA shots could possibly deliver DNA contaminants into human cells.

These vaccines are not appropriate for use in human beings, said Ladapo in a recent statement released by the Florida Department of Health.

On December 14, the FDA provided a written response where the director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Peter Marks, reported that a DNA virus was not present in the shots and that studies did not find "genotoxicity from the vaccine.

Ladapo raised his concerns again Wednesday, saying that the FDAs response does not provide data or evidence that the DNA integration assessments they recommended themselves have been performed," and that the integration poses a unique and elevated risk to human health."

In his letter, Marks said the 2007 FDA guidance Ladapo referred to was developed for DNA vaccines themselves, not for DNA as a contaminant in other vaccines and is not applicable to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines," and that its quite implausible that any residual DNA fragments from the COVID vaccines could find its way into a cells nucleus and be incorporated into chromosomal DNA.

He also said that reproductive toxicology studies found no concerns with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and that global surveillance data on more than 1 billion doses of vaccines administered show nothing to indicate harm to the genome."

The FDA doubled down and said that they wanted to make clear that based on a thorough assessment of the entire manufacturing process, FDA is confident in the quality, safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines."

Ladapo, however, doesnt think the FDA has properly assessed the vaccines.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also says that the shots are safe and effective and is recommending the vaccines for everyone 6 months and older.

But Florida's surgeon general does not suggest people under 65 get the vaccine and recommends they speak to their doctor before getting the shot.

"The FDA stands firmly behind the safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality of the approved and authorized COVID-19 vaccines, and respectfully disagrees with the Florida Surgeon Generals opinion.With over a billion doses of the mRNA vaccines administered and following very careful review of all the available scientific evidence, the FDA has not identified safety concerns related to the sequence of, or amount of, residual DNA," the FDA said in a statement Thursday. "In general, while concerns have been raised previously as theoretical issues, the available scientific evidence regarding the mRNA vaccines strongly supports the conclusion that the vaccines are safe and effective and have a highly favorable profile of benefit to risk. Additionally, it is simply a fact that millions of lives have been saved because of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, which most Americans undergoing vaccination have received."

The CDC estimates that about 11% of adults and about 6% of kids in Florida have received the new shots.

Link:

Florida surgeon general calls for halt in the use of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines - NBC 6 South Florida

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) A health alert is in place as a surge in sickness among staff, patients and visitors is forcing some local hospitals to mask across the board.

Starting with Upstate, including Golisano Childrens Hospital, Community Hospital and Upstate Cancer Center.

All staff are now required to wear masks everywhere except administrative areas and break rooms.

Visitors will be screened for respiratory illness, and if negative, ear loop masks are required for visiting. Anyone with symptoms will be turned away.

The same goes for visitors at Crouse Hospital. Crouse employees will also have to mask up if theyll be interacting with patients, including in hallways and nurses stations.

Currently, there is no universal masking at St. Josephs Health Hospital yet, but they are required in certain units.

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CNY hospitals starting to require masks as flu and COVID-19 cases surge - WSYR

Understanding your rights to COVID-19 sick leave amid rising cases in Central New York

by Emma Misiaszek

(AdobeStock photo){p}{/p}

As COVID-19 cases in Central New York continue to rise some are asking if theyre still entitled to COVID sick days that were commonplace during the height of the pandemic.

In New York, to qualify for any disability or paid family leave, you need to take certain steps to document your COVID case. This is true for everyone whether youve received the vaccine or not.

After testing positive you must quarantine for five days. You should complete a form that affirms you were in isolation.

Most employers in New York State are required to provide you with COVID-19 sick leave and are expected to pay you for the days of work you missed while in quarantine.

This also applies to parents and guardians if they need to quarantine with their young child who gets COVID-19.

For more information, click here.

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Understanding your rights to COVID-19 sick leave amid rising cases in Central New York - CNYcentral.com

More U.S. hospitals are requiring masks and limiting visitors as health officials face an expected but still nasty post-holiday spike in flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses.While many experts say this season likely won't prove to be as deadly as some other recent winters, it still could mean hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and many thousands of deaths across the country.New York City last week instituted a mask mandate for the city's 11 public hospitals. Similar measures were ordered last week at some hospitals in Los Angeles and Massachusetts. Some hospitals reinstated masking rules for employees months ago, in anticipation of a seasonal rush of sick people.Flu and COVID-19 infections have been increasing for weeks, with high levels of flu-like illness reported in 31 states just before Christmas. Updated national numbers are to be released Friday, but health officials predict infections will grow in many states well into January."What we're seeing right now, in the first week of January, is really an acceleration of flu cases, in particular," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.There is some good news. Flu and COVID-19 cases may peak by the end of the month and then drop, Cohen said. Though the flu has been skyrocketing, this year's cases are being caused by a strain that usually doesn't cause as many deaths and hospitalizations as some other versions. What's more, signs suggest current flu vaccines are well-matched to the strain."I don't think it's going to be overwhelming," said Dr. William Schaffner, Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert. He deemed the current season "moderately severe."The CDC is pointing the public to an agency website where people can look up their county, which can help them make decisions about whether to wear masks or take other precautions. Cohen urged people to get vaccinated and to seek treatment for flu and COVID-19.Vaccinations are down this year, officials say. About 44% of U.S. adults had gotten flu shots by Dec. 23, according to the most recently available CDC vaccination survey data. Only about 19% of U.S. adults were reported to have received an updated COVID-19 shot as of early December.COVID-19 cases are causing more severe disease than the flu but have been rising less dramatically. Health officials are keeping an eye on JN.1, a new version of the ever-evolving coronavirus. The omicron variant was first detected in the U.S. in September and just before Christmas accounted for an estimated 44% of COVID-19 cases.The JN.1 variant may spread easier or be better at evading our immune systems, but there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease than other recent variants, health officials say. Current evidence indicates vaccines and antiviral medications work against it.The CDC also has reported disappointing vaccination rates against another seasonal bug, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. That is a common cause of mild cold-like symptoms, but it can be dangerous for infants and older people. RSV cases rose in the fall but appear to have plateaued and are even going down in some places, according to the latest data.At Hillsdale Hospital in southern Michigan, a 65% increase in respiratory illness activity in late December triggered a limitation to visitors in the birthing center. Only a spouse, a support person and grandparents can visit. They all must wear a mask and not show symptoms of sickness.The restriction is common for the hospital around this time of year, said Dr. Nichole Ellis, a pediatrician who is the hospital's medical chief of staff. But it's more difficult this season, she added."In the past, we would have one disease that we were tracking or monitoring at one time," Ellis said. "But now, babies and children will have multiple diseases at the same time. It's not that they just have RSV but they're getting RSV and COVID at the same time, or influenza and RSV at the same time because all of the diseases are prevalent in our community."

More U.S. hospitals are requiring masks and limiting visitors as health officials face an expected but still nasty post-holiday spike in flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses.

While many experts say this season likely won't prove to be as deadly as some other recent winters, it still could mean hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and many thousands of deaths across the country.

New York City last week instituted a mask mandate for the city's 11 public hospitals. Similar measures were ordered last week at some hospitals in Los Angeles and Massachusetts. Some hospitals reinstated masking rules for employees months ago, in anticipation of a seasonal rush of sick people.

Flu and COVID-19 infections have been increasing for weeks, with high levels of flu-like illness reported in 31 states just before Christmas. Updated national numbers are to be released Friday, but health officials predict infections will grow in many states well into January.

"What we're seeing right now, in the first week of January, is really an acceleration of flu cases, in particular," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There is some good news. Flu and COVID-19 cases may peak by the end of the month and then drop, Cohen said. Though the flu has been skyrocketing, this year's cases are being caused by a strain that usually doesn't cause as many deaths and hospitalizations as some other versions. What's more, signs suggest current flu vaccines are well-matched to the strain.

"I don't think it's going to be overwhelming," said Dr. William Schaffner, Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert. He deemed the current season "moderately severe."

The CDC is pointing the public to an agency website where people can look up their county, which can help them make decisions about whether to wear masks or take other precautions. Cohen urged people to get vaccinated and to seek treatment for flu and COVID-19.

Vaccinations are down this year, officials say. About 44% of U.S. adults had gotten flu shots by Dec. 23, according to the most recently available CDC vaccination survey data. Only about 19% of U.S. adults were reported to have received an updated COVID-19 shot as of early December.

COVID-19 cases are causing more severe disease than the flu but have been rising less dramatically. Health officials are keeping an eye on JN.1, a new version of the ever-evolving coronavirus. The omicron variant was first detected in the U.S. in September and just before Christmas accounted for an estimated 44% of COVID-19 cases.

The JN.1 variant may spread easier or be better at evading our immune systems, but there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease than other recent variants, health officials say. Current evidence indicates vaccines and antiviral medications work against it.

The CDC also has reported disappointing vaccination rates against another seasonal bug, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. That is a common cause of mild cold-like symptoms, but it can be dangerous for infants and older people. RSV cases rose in the fall but appear to have plateaued and are even going down in some places, according to the latest data.

At Hillsdale Hospital in southern Michigan, a 65% increase in respiratory illness activity in late December triggered a limitation to visitors in the birthing center. Only a spouse, a support person and grandparents can visit. They all must wear a mask and not show symptoms of sickness.

The restriction is common for the hospital around this time of year, said Dr. Nichole Ellis, a pediatrician who is the hospital's medical chief of staff. But it's more difficult this season, she added.

"In the past, we would have one disease that we were tracking or monitoring at one time," Ellis said. "But now, babies and children will have multiple diseases at the same time. It's not that they just have RSV but they're getting RSV and COVID at the same time, or influenza and RSV at the same time because all of the diseases are prevalent in our community."

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More hospitals are requiring masks as flu and COVID-19 cases surge - WBAL TV Baltimore

More U.S. hospitals are requiring masks and limiting visitors as health officials face an expected but still nasty post-holiday spike in flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses.While many experts say this season likely won't prove to be as deadly as some other recent winters, it still could mean hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and many thousands of deaths across the country.New York City last week instituted a mask mandate for the city's 11 public hospitals. Similar measures were ordered last week at some hospitals in Los Angeles and Massachusetts. Some hospitals reinstated masking rules for employees months ago, in anticipation of a seasonal rush of sick people.Flu and COVID-19 infections have been increasing for weeks, with high levels of flu-like illness reported in 31 states just before Christmas. Updated national numbers are to be released Friday, but health officials predict infections will grow in many states well into January."What we're seeing right now, in the first week of January, is really an acceleration of flu cases, in particular," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.There is some good news. Flu and COVID-19 cases may peak by the end of the month and then drop, Cohen said. Though the flu has been skyrocketing, this year's cases are being caused by a strain that usually doesn't cause as many deaths and hospitalizations as some other versions. What's more, signs suggest current flu vaccines are well-matched to the strain."I don't think it's going to be overwhelming," said Dr. William Schaffner, Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert. He deemed the current season "moderately severe."The CDC is pointing the public to an agency website where people can look up their county, which can help them make decisions about whether to wear masks or take other precautions. Cohen urged people to get vaccinated and to seek treatment for flu and COVID-19.Vaccinations are down this year, officials say. About 44% of U.S. adults had gotten flu shots by Dec. 23, according to the most recently available CDC vaccination survey data. Only about 19% of U.S. adults were reported to have received an updated COVID-19 shot as of early December.COVID-19 cases are causing more severe disease than the flu but have been rising less dramatically. Health officials are keeping an eye on JN.1, a new version of the ever-evolving coronavirus. The omicron variant was first detected in the U.S. in September and just before Christmas accounted for an estimated 44% of COVID-19 cases.The JN.1 variant may spread easier or be better at evading our immune systems, but there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease than other recent variants, health officials say. Current evidence indicates vaccines and antiviral medications work against it.The CDC also has reported disappointing vaccination rates against another seasonal bug, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. That is a common cause of mild cold-like symptoms, but it can be dangerous for infants and older people. RSV cases rose in the fall but appear to have plateaued and are even going down in some places, according to the latest data.At Hillsdale Hospital in southern Michigan, a 65% increase in respiratory illness activity in late December triggered a limitation to visitors in the birthing center. Only a spouse, a support person and grandparents can visit. They all must wear a mask and not show symptoms of sickness.The restriction is common for the hospital around this time of year, said Dr. Nichole Ellis, a pediatrician who is the hospital's medical chief of staff. But it's more difficult this season, she added."In the past, we would have one disease that we were tracking or monitoring at one time," Ellis said. "But now, babies and children will have multiple diseases at the same time. It's not that they just have RSV but they're getting RSV and COVID at the same time, or influenza and RSV at the same time because all of the diseases are prevalent in our community."

More U.S. hospitals are requiring masks and limiting visitors as health officials face an expected but still nasty post-holiday spike in flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses.

While many experts say this season likely won't prove to be as deadly as some other recent winters, it still could mean hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and many thousands of deaths across the country.

New York City last week instituted a mask mandate for the city's 11 public hospitals. Similar measures were ordered last week at some hospitals in Los Angeles and Massachusetts. Some hospitals reinstated masking rules for employees months ago, in anticipation of a seasonal rush of sick people.

Flu and COVID-19 infections have been increasing for weeks, with high levels of flu-like illness reported in 31 states just before Christmas. Updated national numbers are to be released Friday, but health officials predict infections will grow in many states well into January.

"What we're seeing right now, in the first week of January, is really an acceleration of flu cases, in particular," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There is some good news. Flu and COVID-19 cases may peak by the end of the month and then drop, Cohen said. Though the flu has been skyrocketing, this year's cases are being caused by a strain that usually doesn't cause as many deaths and hospitalizations as some other versions. What's more, signs suggest current flu vaccines are well-matched to the strain.

"I don't think it's going to be overwhelming," said Dr. William Schaffner, Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert. He deemed the current season "moderately severe."

The CDC is pointing the public to an agency website where people can look up their county, which can help them make decisions about whether to wear masks or take other precautions. Cohen urged people to get vaccinated and to seek treatment for flu and COVID-19.

Vaccinations are down this year, officials say. About 44% of U.S. adults had gotten flu shots by Dec. 23, according to the most recently available CDC vaccination survey data. Only about 19% of U.S. adults were reported to have received an updated COVID-19 shot as of early December.

COVID-19 cases are causing more severe disease than the flu but have been rising less dramatically. Health officials are keeping an eye on JN.1, a new version of the ever-evolving coronavirus. The omicron variant was first detected in the U.S. in September and just before Christmas accounted for an estimated 44% of COVID-19 cases.

The JN.1 variant may spread easier or be better at evading our immune systems, but there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease than other recent variants, health officials say. Current evidence indicates vaccines and antiviral medications work against it.

The CDC also has reported disappointing vaccination rates against another seasonal bug, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. That is a common cause of mild cold-like symptoms, but it can be dangerous for infants and older people. RSV cases rose in the fall but appear to have plateaued and are even going down in some places, according to the latest data.

At Hillsdale Hospital in southern Michigan, a 65% increase in respiratory illness activity in late December triggered a limitation to visitors in the birthing center. Only a spouse, a support person and grandparents can visit. They all must wear a mask and not show symptoms of sickness.

The restriction is common for the hospital around this time of year, said Dr. Nichole Ellis, a pediatrician who is the hospital's medical chief of staff. But it's more difficult this season, she added.

"In the past, we would have one disease that we were tracking or monitoring at one time," Ellis said. "But now, babies and children will have multiple diseases at the same time. It's not that they just have RSV but they're getting RSV and COVID at the same time, or influenza and RSV at the same time because all of the diseases are prevalent in our community."

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More hospitals are requiring masks as flu and COVID-19 cases surge - WLWT Cincinnati