Category: Covid-19

BOSTON - More people are going to the emergency room these days with the flu and COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So how do you know when you should go see a doctor about your symptoms?

The number of patients who came to be seen at the urgent care clinic where I work was overwhelming on Tuesday, largely due to respiratory illnesses. We're definitely seeing a sharp rise in flu and COVID cases (and still some RSV) but there are clearly other respiratory viruses at play, ones that we don't generally test for and usually refer to as the common cold or a flu-like illness. And the surge has been largely driven by the holidays when germs easily passed from person to person.

Most people who get a cold or cough do not need to be seen in an urgent care or emergency room. If you are generally healthy and have a sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, cough, body aches, or even fever and you're managing your symptoms at home with over-the-counter remedies, you don't need to be seen.

However, if you develop shortness of breath, chest discomfort, severe belly pain, uncontrollable vomiting, or can't keep fluids down, then you should get immediate attention.

If your child is sick, and you're concerned about them, call your pediatrician, who should have someone available by phone 24 hours a day who can tell you whether you need to get to an urgent care or ER.

And yes, if you develop cold symptoms, you should test for COVID at home, keeping in mind that it can take several days for a rapid home test to turn positive, so a negative test at the onset of symptoms is not enough.

Antibiotics won't help in these cases, but there are antiviral medications that can help in certain situations.

Let's start with the flu. We are prescribing antiviral medications for the flu pretty liberally right now, but ideally, they should be started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. And certain people really should be treated, including young children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions. So if you develop fever, body aches, and cough, call your doctor to see if they can prescribe an antiviral flu medication over the phone.

As for COVID, Paxlovid is an antiviral medication that is typically used in people 50 and older and those with certain underlying medical conditions. It should be started within five days of the onset of symptoms, so if you test positive for COVID, call your doctor to determine whether you should be taking Paxlovid.

Dr. Mallika Marshall is offering her best advice, but as always, consult your personal doctor before making any decisions about your personal health.

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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Have COVID or flu symptoms? Here's when you should go to the doctor, urgent care or emergency room - CBS Boston

Getty Images photo by Sean Gallup.

As people return home from holiday travel and spending time with loved ones over the past couple weeks, the Maryland Department of Health is urging clinicians to strengthen protective measures to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.

The rate of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and other viruses increased during the last week of 2023, and the state Department of Health is urging clinicians to implement broad facility-wide prevention measures such as masking and vaccination efforts to bring the hospitalization rate back down.

According to a letter on Dec. 28, Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Nilesh Kalyanaraman said that the weekly respiratory virus-associated hospitalization rate increased due in large part to increasing COVID and flu infections based off of data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The combined data includes hospitalizations for COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

At the time of the advisory letter to clinicians, the Maryland combined hospitalization rate for the week ending on December 16 was 11.4 per 100,000 residents, according to the Department of Health.

Broad facility-wide source control can be discontinued once the combined weekly respiratory virus-associated hospitalization rate has been below 10 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents for two consecutive weeks, the letter says.

In the letter, Kalyanaraman said that clinicians and health care facilities should implement universal masking in all patient care areas and patient-facing health care settings.

He also said to vaccinate eligible patients and healthcare workers against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV and reminded clinicians to treat cases of respiratory illnesses with antivirals quickly when appropriate.

Other measures include ensuring that employees and clinicians use personal protective equipment correctly and to optimize ventilation in health care facilities.

As of Wednesday, the department reports that the current weekly combined hospitalization rate is at 7.6.

Additionally, the Department of Health encourages Marylanders to take steps in order to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, according to an email from the department.

The health department notes that people can receive both the updated COVID-19 vaccine and the annual flu shot at the same time. There is also a new vaccine against RSV.

The CDC and Maryland Health Department both urged people to receive updated vaccines prior to holiday travels and family gatherings to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses and prevent exposure to those who may have lower immune systems.

The department also reminds Marylanders that washing hands, covering up a sneeze or a cough, and staying home when sick can also reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.

COVID data

Many Maryland counties have a medium rate of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 as of Jan. 3. Courtesy of the Maryland Department of Health

The Maryland Department of Health has issued regular updates to the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19 specifically since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Maryland Matters has been tracking the states COVID-19 data released weekly by the Maryland Department of Health.

Since March 18, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2023, there have been a total of 1,426,906 cases of COVID-19 reported by the Department of Health.

During that same time frame, more than 17,150 Marylanders have died from COVID-19.

On New Years Eve, seven COVID-related deaths were reported and there were 499 people who were hospitalized that day.

Three days into the new year, there are already 1,306 new cases of COVID-19 and at least 11 deaths, according to the Department of Healths data.

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Md. health department urges masks, vaccination after respiratory illness-related hospitalizations - Maryland Matters

FILE - COVID-19 antigen home tests indicating a positive result are photographed in New York, April 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)

WASHINGTON (TND)

COVID infections and hospitalizations are rising as the U.S. goes through its first seasonal uptick after the end of the public health emergency, which as coming along with a rise in flu and RSV cases and creating a triple-threat of respiratory illnesses.

The U.S. has seen surges of respiratory illnesses, including COVID, during the fall and winter months as cooler weather pushes people inside and gatherings for the holidays begin since the onset of the pandemic. Some years, like with the Omicron variant in 2022, saw significant spikes in severe illness and death.

But this year appears to be much less severe in terms of hospitalizations and deaths. A new COVID variant, JN.1, has become the dominant strain spreading across the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. JN.1 is highly transmissible, but health experts say that it does not appear to be driving a spike in severe illness or hospitalizations.

The new COVID variant JN.1 is highly transmissible, so it's causing a lot of mild illness that doesn't require hospitalizations, but some hospitalizations will occur among older people. Fortunately, the updated vaccine continues to protect against severe serious, serious disease caused by JN.1, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

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Even though the uptick in flu and COVID cases is not expected to be severe, it will still result in thousands of illnesses and deaths in the U.S.

For the week ending Dec. 23, hospitalizations rose by nearly 17% from the previous week. There were about 29,000 new hospital admissions, an improvement from 39,000 the same time in 2022 and 61,000 in 2021, according to CDC data. Deaths also increased by 10% from the week prior.

The COVID bump comes along with more flu infections, which the CDC estimates to total around 7.1 million illnesses, 73,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths so far this season.

Health officials saw lower vaccine uptake with every round of the coronavirus vaccine that was released as people grew tired of rolling up their sleeves and vaccine skepticism ramped up over the course of the last few years. Getting a COVID vaccine has also become more burdensome for patients after the expiration of the public health emergency without federal funds boosting the availability of it.

There's a fair amount of vaccine fatigue out there and people want to put COVID behind them and unfortunately, that means we have underutilized the JN.1 updated vaccine, as well as the influenza vaccine. You're not reaching the same population that we did before COVID, Schaffner said. I hope over time, we can turn this around, educating people and making them comfortable and understanding that this is a good thing for them, their families and their communities.

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The uptick in COVID and flu cases has prompted hospitals in some parts of the country to reinstate mask mandates to minimize the spread of the illnesses. Some hospitals in places like New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. renewed mask requirements following an uptick in infections and hospitalizations.

It remains unlikely for widespread masking rules to make a return as the U.S. has largely moved on from the pandemic, with voluntary masking increasingly rarer to see and COVID fatigue hampering efforts to get shots in arms with the new COVID booster and this years flu shot.

Despite the challenges and new variants, existing treatments for COVID and the flu are still effective.

Public health experts are encouraging people to reach out to their doctors for treatment if they become sick. That is especially important for those who fall into high-risk groups of developing severe illness or complications.

In terms of treatment, we have treatments available both for flu and for COVID. And we're just having to remind people, particularly those in high-risk groups, that if they develop symptoms to contact their health care providers because we can help them get better sooner, Schaffner said.

Americans can also still receive free COVID tests from the U.S. government delivered by the United States Postal Service at no charge after the government reopened the tests portal in anticipation of a busy fall and winter season for infection. Households can order another round of four at-home tests and anyone who did not accept the offer in September can get up to eight through COVIDtests.gov.

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US struggles with increased COVID, flu, RSV amid falling vaccine use - KFOX El Paso

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A Case of Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy With Multiple Organ Failure Following COVID-19 - Cureus

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) Health officials are on high alert as a new surge of COVID-19 is expected to peak in late January following Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Data from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services reveals a historical trend of peaks in COVID-19 cases during January and July.

Over 30 days, Clark County has witnessed an average of 127 COVID-19 cases. Recent CDC data indicates an increase in nationwide spread and hospitalizations, with reported virus-related deaths rising by 10%. Nationally, the new variant, JN.1, constitutes 44.2% of new cases. Doctors recommend going back to the basics to limit spread.

"Wash your hands, use sanitizer before and after meeting people, and avoid touching high-risk or frequently touched areas," advises Dr. Raj P. Kotak, Chief Medical Officer at AdventHealth Carrollwood.

The Southern Nevada Health District emphasizes the importance of getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine, even for healthy individuals. Doctors also recommend avoiding large crowds and wearing masks.

The health district offers free testing, and appointments can be booked on their website.

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Southern Nevada health officials bracing for late-January COVID-19 surge - KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Union Health says it now has visitor restrictions in place due to rising sicknesses.

The restrictions impact its hospitals in both Terre Haute and Clinton.

Union cites a spike in respiratory viruses, including Covid-19, as the reason.

The restrictions start right away.

Union Health says it now has visitor restrictions in place due to rising sicknesses.

If you are sick with a respiratory issue, you shouldn't enter - unless you need treatment.

Visitors are encouraged to wear a mask.

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Covid-19 and respiratory sickness leads to visitor restrictions at both of Union Health's hospitals - WTHITV.com

Health Watch: What's going around?

MINNEAPOLIS We're hitting that time of year where it seems like almost everyone's either coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose.

The problem has reared its head at Debbie's Daycare in Minneapolis. Debbie Nauman, the owner, said she was in and out of work for three months with what she thinks was a terrible case of RSV.

"[It was] mainly coughing," she said. "It's the worst I've ever had."

Nauman said most of the kids she takes care of got sick, and then their parents got sick too.

MORE: A group of Minnesotans are suing local hospitals after losing loved ones to COVID-19

"My kids are really young right now, so they don't get the concept of covering [your mouth] and blowing your nose," she said.

The challenge of stopping the spread of the trifecta of respiratory diseases flu, RSV and COVID falls on everyone.

"These illnesses are circulating in schools and afterschool activities, so when your child is not feeling well, it's best to have them sit out from school or their sports practices," Gagnon said.

State health data shows RSV hospitalizations are on the rise for children four and under. Seniors are seeing a similar spike for flu. Gagnon says COVID cases are also surging again.

"Compared to prior years, like last year, we're currently at lower levels of influenza-like illnesses in that spike, however there's many more weeks of winter to go, and I wouldn't be surprised if our peak is coming," she said.

Gagnon says it helps to get tested if you're sick because all three respiratory diseases can have similar symptoms.

She also encourages people who are suffering to go see a doctor because they can have more effective treatments than simply waiting out a virus.

David joined the WCCO team in April 2020, previously working at CBS 58 in Milwaukee. Prior to that, he worked in Las Vegas. While there, David covered several stories in the national spotlight, including the October 1 mass shooting and political visits from President Barack Obama and candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

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Trifecta of RSV, flu, COVID cases on the rise in Minnesota - CBS News

MIKE STOBBE, Associated Press

21 hours ago

Frank Cope waits outside for a car after a checkup at Bellevue Hospital in New York on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2023. The previous week, New York City resumed a mask mandate for the citys 11 public hospitals. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon)

NEW YORK (AP) 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 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 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.

___

Kenya Hunter in Atlanta contributed.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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

The self-storage industrys ability to withstand economic downturns has also been evident in data from the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT). A REIT is a company that, in addition to meeting certain shareholder and investment requirements, owns, operates or finances income-producing real estate, such as self-storage units.

In 2008, amid the Great Recession, most REITs suffered losses, but self-storage showed a positive 5% return, according to NAREIT.

Occupancy rates provide more evidence of the industrys resilience. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, self-storage occupancy averaged 96.5% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to 91.5% in the first quarter of 2020.

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Self-Storage Industry Withstands Economic Volatility Through COVID-19 - U.S. Census Bureau

A new study examined hospital responses during the COVID-19 pandemic with the goal of identifying the capacity burdens experienced by the countrys hospital systems during the pandemics peak.

The study, led by Richard Boxer, MD, clinical professor of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, used data on 7-day averaged COVID-19 hospitalizations from the Department of Health and Human Services. The analysis spanned the period between December 18, 2020, and January 14, 2021, which coincided with the peak of national COVID-19 hospitalizations. Findings revealed that throughout this four-week timeframe, 2,901 distinct hospitals reported an average of 45.7 COVID-19 patients per day.

Researchers looked at the first big surge of COVID-19 cases when hospitals were struggling with limited capacity. Study authors discovered that smaller hospitals within large health systems had more COVID-19 patients compared to independent hospitals. However, the largest hospitals within the top ten health systems studied didnt show this trend.

Hospitals that had pediatric and trauma units tended to experience lower numbers of COVID-19 patients, particularly in regions with a higher density of hospitals. In areas characterized by lower socioeconomic status and a larger Black population, hospitals had fewer COVID-19 patients when fewer hospitals were accessible. However, in areas with a higher percentage of Latino residents, there were more COVID-19 patients, regardless of how many hospitals were present.

Within the concerning landscape of COVID-19's impact, our study reveals a sobering reality: When there are more hospitals in a market, thus more competition, the economically disadvantaged had fewer admissions than would be expected based upon their population percentage," Dr. Boxer said. "This indicates that by focusing on resource allocation, we could help reduce the strain on hospitals and make space for patients living in areas with lower socioeconomic status."

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Study analyzes hospital system capacity burden amid the COVID-19 pandemic - UCLA Health Connect