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Across the state, there has been a seasonal uptick for the flu,
COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV. As a result,
mask mandates are back at several Illinois hospitals.
Rush University medical system in Chicago said is requiring
"patients, visitors and staff to wear hospital-approved masks in
some areas of the campus.”
The most recent weekly data from the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention showed there were over 29,000
hospitalizations from COVID across the country before Christmas,
up more than 16% from the previous week.
A total of 18 counties in Illinois are listed at high level for
COVID-19 hospitalizations, compared to 14 counties in the week
prior, and 43 are at a medium level in the latest week, compared
to 50 counties in the week prior.
Dr. Artie Barnes, chief medical officer with the Illinois
Department of Public Health, said COVID-19 is continually
evolving.
“This time these multiple strains are just fighting against each
other for dominance which is actually good news,” Barnes told
The Center Square. “There is no one specific strain that is able
to dominate.”
IDPH reports that flu activity is now surging to match the
pre-COVID-19 2019-2020 season while RSV activity overall appears
to have stabilized though a slight increase in RSV admissions in
infants was noted this past week.
The agency launched a new awareness campaign last fall called
‘Tis the Sneezin’ to remind Illinoisans that vaccinations
provide the best protection against the triple threat of
COVID-19, flu and RSV.
Barnes said RSV shots are now available for those over 60 years
of age.
“While RSV has always hit our youngest the hardest in terms of
hospitalizations, it's our older adults that have truly borne
the brunt of both overall hospitalizations from RSV as well as
deaths from RSV,” Barnes said.
The CDC now provides a national respiratory virus dashboard that
allows the public to view weekly updates on the levels of COVID,
flu and RSV.
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