Worsening Flu and COVID-19 Rates Prompt Health Concerns
As flu season intensifies across the United States, particularly in California, heightened levels of COVID-19 and flu test positivity rates are causing a rise in workplace absenteeism and placing a strain on medical resources.
Cameron Jordan
- 2024-01-06
- Updated 10:36 AM ET
(NewsNibs) - Public health data shows a worrying trend in the spike of test positivity rates for both coronavirus and flu. The influx of cases coincides with a notable increase in workplace absenteeism, as infections keep employees home. While national wastewater data hint at a potential peak in coronavirus cases, predictions estimate that COVID-19 cases could reach nearly 2 million per day around January 10. Despite this, the severity of illnesses is notably lower this season compared to the last, with a peak of approximately 5 million cases per day during the 2021-2022 Omicron wave. This decline in severe cases is reflected in the number of COVID-19 patients requiring intensive hospital care, which has seen a reduction this winter.
Rise in Hospitalizations and Outpatient Care
Medical facilities are facing challenges with not just COVID-19 but also a significant rise in flu, particularly in outpatient care settings. In Los Angeles County, flu test positivity rates soared to 18% in the week ending December 30, climbing from 10% a month earlier. Similarly, coronavirus test positivity increased to 13.5% from 9.9% over the same period. The surging cases of influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are overburdening healthcare providers. Most recent records show the United States registered 34,798 new coronavirus-positive hospital admissions during the week ending December 30 — a 20% increase from the previous week; with California recording a 7% increase in new hospital admissions during the same timeframe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported an average of about 1,400 COVID-19 deaths a week nationally since October 1, which is lower than the approximately 2,400 weekly deaths in the same period the previous year.
Health Recommendations and Personal Impacts
An observed increase in adult infections, especially among those over age 65, and the risks of co-infection, are exacerbating underlying health conditions and resulting in increased risks of severe complications such as heart attacks and strokes after a COVID-19 infection. Delayed test positivity for COVID-19 could give a false sense of the infection's spread due to the late appearance of results, potentially due to accumulated immunity. Health officials continue to advocate for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations to limit the risk of severe disease. Moreover, RSV immunization is recommended for babies, pregnant individuals, and older adults. Dr. Eric Topol, a prominent figure and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute who contracted COVID-19, underscores the importance of prioritizing efforts to stop infections and transmission, pointing to new oral or inhaled vaccines as potentially crucial tools in achieving variant-proof immunity.
As the U.S. grapples with the escalating rates of flu and COVID-19 cases, health authorities maintain that urgent and continued efforts in vaccination, monitoring, and prevention are key to controlling the spread of infections and protecting the most vulnerable.
