As Boston hospitals face influx of flu and RSV patients, health officials urge precautions ahead of Thanksgiving
As Boston hospitals face an influx of flu and RSV patients, local health officials are urging residents to take precautions against COVID and other respiratory illnesses when gathering for Thanksgiving this week.
The region — and much of the U.S. — has been seeing spikes in respiratory illness in infants and children, leading to a jump in hospitalizations for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
Meanwhile, flu cases and hospitalizations are going up across Massachusetts with the state reporting “moderate” influenza severity.
An increase in COVID cases could put even more pressure on the local health care system, sparking the Boston Public Health Commission to urge residents to stay vigilant from COVID and other respiratory illnesses when celebrating Thanksgiving.
“As many people travel and spend time with family, we can reduce the risk of transmission of respiratory illnesses, like COVID-19, flu, and RSV,” said Bisola Ojikutu, commissioner of Public Health and executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission.
“Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, getting a flu shot, wearing a well-fitted mask while traveling and testing for COVID-19 before gathering are important ways to protect yourself and your family and friends during this holiday season,” Ojikutu added.
Levels of COVID virus in local wastewater are now at 404 RNA copies per milliliter, which is a 3.3% increase over the past week and a 17.5% increase over the past 14 days.
Meanwhile, the seven-day total of new COVID hospital admissions has increased by 44.1% over the past week.
The Boston Public Health Commission is encouraging residents to test for COVID before gathering, stay home if sick or positive for COVID, wear masks indoors and while traveling for added protection, keep windows open to promote proper air filtration, and spend as much time outdoors as possible.
Proper hygiene practices like washing hands often, regularly disinfecting shared surfaces, and covering your mouth when coughing and sneezing are also effective for reducing the spread of COVID, RSV and the flu.
People who plan on getting a PCR test need to make sure they do so by Tuesday to ensure they can get their results back in time.
In the latest state Department of Public Health flu report, the state said 32.78% of Massachusetts residents have gotten a flu shot this season. During the last week, 0.27% of state hospitalizations were associated with influenza.
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