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For the past two holiday seasons, COVID-19 was about the only virus on people’s minds. But this year, a “triple epidemic” of COVID, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is straining the US healthcare system, causing long emergency room wait times and drug shortages.
It’s unusual for these three viruses to all rise at the same time, Dr. Eric Cioè-Peña, director of global health at Northwell Health in New York, told TODAY.com. While the RSV wave appears to be slowing after increasing much earlier in the season than usual, the flu started early, causing more hospitalizations at this point in the season than in the past 10 years, and COVID cases have increased by 36%.
Also, people are taking fewer precautions, like masking and distancing, compared to the past two winters, and the holidays mean spending a lot of time with large groups, mostly indoors.
In short: many people will be spreading respiratory viruses instead of holiday cheer over the next few weeks.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce transmission and keep you and your loved ones safe, especially those at high risk of serious illness, while on vacation.
Limit exposure before seeing loved ones
This time of year brings with it a lot of parties, and perhaps the safest choice is not to attend all of them, NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar said during a segment on the 19 December on TODAY.
“You want to prioritize (and) really think about how many exposures you actually want to encounter, and then you do your own risk assessment for yourself and your own family,” she explained. “If you are traveling, limit your exposure beforehand.”
Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines
Vaccines not only reduce transmission, but they also prevent serious illness and hospitalizations, Dr. Michael Phillips, chief epidemiologist at NYU Langone Health, told TODAY.com. “Even if you are young and healthy, if you visit your grandparents who are at risk of serious illness, vaccination makes a difference.”
And people hosting holiday gatherings should encourage guests to get up to date on their vaccines before attending (i.e. the two-dose primary series and the most recent booster recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), says Cioè-Peña.
The new COVID-19 booster targeting omicron variants and the original strain is approved for anyone 6 months and older. Although Christmas is six days away, “you’ll be more protected after an encore than before an encore, no matter how long, so I would definitely recommend it highly,” says Cioè-Peña.
Get your flu shot as soon as possible
It’s not too late to get the seasonal flu shot as cases and hospitalizations rise across the country, experts note. The flu vaccine is recommended for anyone 6 months and older. While it may not prevent you from catching the flu, it will reduce your level of illness, which is important because hospitals are already struggling.
All of the influenza vaccines available this season are quadrivalent, meaning they protect against four different influenza viruses, and there are already signs that the vaccine is a good match for the strains in circulation at the moment, Dr Luis Ostrosky, infectious disease specialist at UTHealth Houston and the Hermann Memorial in Houston, previously told TODAY.com.
Stay home if you feel sick
Try to avoid holiday gatherings or trips if you feel sick, experts point out. Even if you test negative for COVID-19, you should stay home when you have cold or flu symptoms, Cioè-Peña says, because it could be the flu or another respiratory virus that could make someone vulnerable, like a grandparent. or a very sick young baby.
Parents should try to keep sick children at home or away from gatherings, especially if they have a fever, a sign that “they are probably very contagious,” says Cioè-Peña.
If you’re hosting an event, Cioè-Peña suggests checking in with guests on how they’re feeling in the days leading up to the event and encouraging anyone who feels ill to stay home or attend via Zoom, for example. .
“We know that people who are at real risk of serious illness can get very sick and die, so let’s do everything we can to protect them,” says Phillips.
People at high risk for COVID, influenza, RSV, or other respiratory viruses include: people over 65, immunocompromised people, people with underlying conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, pregnant women and young children.
Test for COVID-19 before gatherings
Current CDC testing guidelines state that anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, sore throat, congestion, fever, fatigue, body aches) should test immediately, and anyone exposed to COVID-19 should begin testing five days later.
But even if you’re feeling fine and have no known exposures, it’s a good idea to get tested before spending unmasked time with someone at high risk, because you can be contagious before the symptoms appear. symptoms and many COVID infections have no symptoms or are so mild. you might not notice them, advises Phillips.
“Taking a rapid COVID-19 test just before visiting a really vulnerable person is a good way to protect them,” he says.
If none of the above circumstances apply to you, it’s still reasonable to get tested before holiday gatherings or travel just to find out your COVID status. But keep in mind that rapid antigen tests tend to be less accurate at picking up infections without symptoms, and a negative rapid test doesn’t guarantee you don’t have COVID.
Whatever your situation, the best time to do a rapid antigen test before a gathering is just in advance; if you are traveling, test before you leave and when you arrive at your destination.
Wear a mask when traveling or in crowds
When worn correctly and consistently, masks are an effective way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses like the flu, experts note. A well-fitting, high-quality surgical mask or an N95-type respirator can protect the wearer of the mask even if the people around them are not masked, says Cioè-Peña.
Everyone can benefit from wearing a mask in crowded indoor environments with poor ventilation, Phillips says, but masking is especially important if you’re vulnerable or if you’re traveling with a vulnerable person.
Last week, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky recommended to wear a mask when you travel by plane, train, bus, or other public transportation, if you are immunocompromised, if you are at increased risk of serious illness, or if you live in a county with low levels of COVID-19 are high.
People who are sick but need to leave home should wear a properly fitted or N95 mask to protect others and should only travel in an emergency — while wearing a mask — says Cioè-Peña.
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