Flu Infections On The Rise In California; Take Preventive Measures
Respiratory infections, including COVID-19, the flu, and the common cold, are becoming more prevalent. 38 states in the US, including California, are seeing high or extremely high rates of respiratory illness activity.
“Emergency departments, urgent care centers, and hospitals are seeing a lot of patients with respiratory illness,” said Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released new statistics showing a 35% increase in weekly hospitalizations for the flu and a 20% increase for COVID-19.
Hospitalization rates were higher among adults over 65.
In the meanwhile, RSV hospitalization rates are highest among children under four, albeit they are beginning to decline in certain places.
“Both flu and COVID will last for a while, so I do encourage people to go ahead and take advantage of those vaccines. Some people are eligible for RSV, older people,” Ferrer said.
It’s advised to protect oneself by covering your face using a face mask.
“If you’re taking public transportation, if you’re in a group setting, you may be the first one in the group to wear the mask, but you may also be the one who doesn’t get sick,” said Baldridge, adding that face masks, vaccines, and hand washing have largely helped keep the hospital’s staff safe. “We’re quite careful. So our staff is really been pretty unaffected by it.”
“We have increased our capacity in the hospitals so we can care for all of our patients,” said Dr. Brad Baldridge, an emergency room doctor and chairman of the department at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance.
