The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday encouraged people to wear masks to help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses this season as Covid, flu and RSV circulate at the same time.
CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, on a call with reporters, said wearing a mask is one of the daily precautions people can take to reduce their chances of catching or spreading the virus. respiratory tract during the busy holiday season.
“We also encourage you to wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses,” says Walensky, especially those who live in areas with high levels of Covid transmission. .
The CDC director said the agency is looking at expanding the community-level Covid system to include other respiratory viruses like influenza. This system is the basis when CDC advises the public to wear masks. But Walensky encourages the public to take the initiative.
“People don’t need to wait for the CDC to act to put on a mask,” says Walensky. “We encourage all of those precautions – washing your hands, staying home when you are sick, wearing a mask, increasing ventilation – during respiratory virus season, but especially in areas with high high levels of the Covid-19 community.”
About 5% of the US population lives in counties where the CDC officially recommends wearing masks due to high levels of Covid. Walensky said the CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask for anyone traveling by plane, train, bus, or other forms of public transportation.
The CDC director said people with weakened immune systems or facing a high risk of serious illness should also consider wearing a mask.
Walensky strongly encourages everyone who is eligible to get a flu shot and a Covid booster shot. The CDC director said flu vaccine coverage for at-risk groups – children under 5, pregnant women and the elderly at risk – is lagging behind last year. There is no vaccine for RSV.
The flu came early and hit the United States hard with its highest number of hospitalizations in a decade this time of year. According to CDC data, more than 8.7 million people have fallen ill, 78,000 have been hospitalized, and 4,500 have died from the flu this season. Fourteen children have died from the flu so far this season.
According to CDC data, more than 19,000 people were hospitalized with the flu in the week ending November 26, nearly twice as many as the week before.
The number of people hospitalized for Covid also increased 27% in the week ending December 2, according to CDC data. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, also places children at a higher rate than in previous years. Walensky said RSV appears to have peaked in the Southeast and may level off in the Mid-Atlantic.
“Now we face another wave of illness. Another moment of overactivity and indeed a tragic and often preventable death,” Walensky said, thanking the team. healthcare workers for their service during the repeated episodes of illness they have faced since the start of the Covid pandemic.
Sandra Fryhofer, board chair of the American Medical Association, said the simultaneous circulation of Covid, flu and RSV was “a perfect storm for a bad holiday.” Fryhofer said she understands many people get tired of repeated Covid shots, but getting vaccinated is the best way to avoid getting sick during the holidays.
“You can get really, really sick this year and ruin your holiday celebrations if you don’t get vaccinated,” Fryhofer said on Monday’s call.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and Hospital Association last month asked the Biden administration declare a public health emergency in response to the increase in pediatric hospital admissions due to RSV and influenza.
