Covid-19 and flu cases surge locally, RSV on the decline – Hyde Park Herald

Covid-19 and influenza cases are rising in Chicago and around the country, causing some strain on local hospitals.

At the University of Chicago Medical Center, "We've seen a progressive rise over the past two months, with ever increasing cases, both in the clinics, in our employees and in hospitalized patients, said Dr. Emily Landon, the centers executive medical director for infection prevention and control. It was similar to what we were seeing at the peak of last year.

That, plus the patients with flu, its just really rough right now, added Landon, who currently has Covid-19. Landon came down with the sickness despite taking extra precautions for her rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease.

According to data from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), as expected, test positivity cases began to increase in the fall, from about 6% positivity throughout October to a peak of 12% positivity by the end of December. That same week, about 1,013 people were admitted to the hospital for Covid-19 complications an increase of about 700 people from October.

In the midst of cold and flu season, Covid-19 is leading hospital admissions for respiratory viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Meanwhile, test positivity for Covid-19 cases sits at 8.3% as of Jan. 26. After remaining relatively stable at about 6%, throughout October (up from 2% to 4% over the summer), it started to increase in November. The rate of positive tests peaked the week of Dec. 29, with 12% positivity. (Landon noted that test positivity rate can be unreliable, given that only patients exhibiting respiratory symptoms are tested.)

Regarding patients symptoms, Landon said the hospital is seeing a lot of congestion, lots of sore throats, a lot of co-infection with group A strep, as well as influenza cases.

Were also seeing people who arent testing positive for any of those, and who have just some other virus, making people feel pretty sick and miserable, she added.

According to CDC data, the most prevalent strain of the virus for most of the Midwest is JN.1, a subvariant of Omicron first detected by the World Health Organization in August. It is not said to be any more severe than previous iterations of the virus.

Nearby, Provident Hospital is seeing a similar surge in Covid-19 and flu cases.

This year is the first year in the past few where weve had a true influenza season, said Dr. Jonathan Martin, an infectious disease physician with Cook County Health. Influenza cases have been going up after the holidays.

He added that Provident is also seeing people present with exacerbations of a chronic condition, like asthma or kidney disease.

Per the citys most recent Influenza and Respiratory Virus Weekly Surveillance Report, for the week ending Jan. 13, Chicagos test positivity rate was 9.9%.

Per city reports, more than 20 cases of influenza-associated ICU hospitalizations occurred every week for the last four weeks. Thats more than half of the 174 influenza-associated ICU hospitalizations that have been reported since Oct. 1.

This latest surge, health officials say, is due in part to the low number of vaccinated Americans. Per city data, only 13.8% of Chicagoans have received the most recent booster, which arrived at local pharmacies in September.

The most recent boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax are all expected to help lower the chances of serious illness and hospitalization from JN.1.

CDPH still recommends vaccination as the best way to protect against infection, and encourages all Chicagoans six months and older to get their annual influenza shot and the updated Covid-19 booster.

Landon said that going forward, people should expect to get a new Covid-19 vaccine yearly, like the influenza vaccine.

As for RSV, though the CDPH reports that activity is decreasing, the CDC recommends RSV vaccines for adults ages 60 and older and people who are 32 to 26 weeks pregnant. An RSV-preventative antibody is also recommended for infants and some young children.

Health officials are also urging masking.

I would recommend wearing a mask in public right now for almost anybody, especially if youre a high-risk person, said Landon.

In September, the U. of C. Medicine re-implemented its mask requirement for all health care workers any time theyre interacting with a patient. Its also screening people when they enter the hospital and tracking exposures within the hospital.

Provident is requiring masking of patients and visitors when they enter an exam room or are waiting to be seen by a provider.

"I would recommend if anyone has any questions or concerns if they do have Covid, to go get tested, to wear a mask if they're on their way to be tested and to stay home from work until you feel better, Martin said.

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Covid-19 and flu cases surge locally, RSV on the decline - Hyde Park Herald