Face mask mandates return in multiple states as doctors warn of ‘quad-demic’ of four viral infections

Data shows a quadruple onslaught of viruses is hitting the US as millions of people return to work after the holidays.

Official figures show that infections caused by flu, Covid, RSV (a respiratory illness that causes the common cold) and norovirus (also known as stomach flu) all started to rise over the Christmas period, as families came together to celebrate.

And experts say the numbers will only continue to rise in the coming weeks as the U.S. enters the peak period of the annual flu season.

Data shows that norovirus cases for this time of year are at their highest level since 2012, while RSV hospitalizations have risen by almost 40 percent in two weeks.

An estimated 3.1 million people have been sickened by the flu so far this season, while 37,000 people have been hospitalized and 1,500 have died. And the number of states with “very high” levels of the disease quadrupled to eight in a week.

There have also been an estimated 2.5 to 4.4 million cases of Covid between October 1 and December 7, including 72,000 to 120,000 hospitalizations and 8,200 to 13,000 deaths.

The rise in infections is leading to a return of mask mandates in some states, with a hospital system in Wisconsin becoming the latest to reinstate them this week.

Hospitals in parts of California, Illinois, Indiana and New Jersey have also scaled back rules for staff and visitors. New York City has also urged people to consider wearing a face mask on public transportation.

Experts say the rise in winter infections is driven by increased mixing during the holiday season, as well as travel on public transport and planes.

The problem is compounded by the fact that people’s immune systems were weakened during Covid lockdowns and working from home rules, putting some at greater risk of more severe illness.

Dr. Joe Bresee, an infectious disease expert who spent two decades at the CDC, told DailyMail.com: ‘What we’re seeing now is an increasing number of respiratory diseases and noroviruses that are really everywhere in the US.

“This is what we see most years and we will likely see increasing amounts in the coming weeks.”

The expert, who also works for The Task Force for Global Health, added: ‘For each of these four viruses we will see increases through January and then they will peak sometime in January or early February. But the peaks will be slightly different depending on where you live in the US.”

Dr. Todd Rice, a professor of medicine in Tennessee, told a local provider: ‘Being indoors and around many people can lead to more virus spread.

‘[Cases] will likely remain elevated for another week or two.”

The eight states with very high flu levels are: Louisiana, Washington, Tennessee, Alabama, California, Idaho, New Mexico and Mississippi.

Data also shows that for RSV, an estimated 22,000 to 45,000 people have been hospitalized with the disease since October, while 980 to 2,300 have died.

The hospital admission rate had risen by almost 40 per cent to 1.8 per 100,000 in the week to December 7, the latest figure available – compared to 1.3 in the week to November 23.

Data shows that more than 90 outbreaks were recorded for norovirus in the first week of December – triple the 30 recorded two weeks earlier.

It was also the most outbreaks at this time of year since 2012.

The unusual rise in norovirus cases may be partly linked to an outbreak in Los Angeles in which at least 80 people became ill after eating raw oysters contaminated with norovirus at a restaurant.

Dr. Bresee previously told DailyMail.com: ‘[Cases] will increase as people get back on planes and travel during the holidays. Every plane at the moment certainly has people with viruses on board.

‘And we often see large peaks just after the winter holidays, because people have traveled, become infected and then returned to school.’

Flu, Covid and RSV are all spread primarily through respiratory droplets released into the air when someone coughs, sneezes or even talks.

But norovirus, on the other hand, is spread through contact with surfaces touched by someone who is already sick.

Experts say norovirus cases can increase at any time of year, but tend to rise during the cold months as people spend more time indoors.

Symptoms of flu, Covid and RSV include fever, cough, shortness of breath and nasal congestion.

Norovirus, on the other hand, is a gastrointestinal disease and causes symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps and body aches.

Any disease can be treated with antiviral medications and with painkillers to relieve the discomfort caused by the symptoms.

Doctors are urging those who think they are suffering from a serious infection to go to the emergency room.

Wisconsin’s Aurora Health Care system — which serves 1.2 million patients a year — is among the latest to bring back mask mandates for its units.

A notice states that visitors must now mask up “when in contact with patients or in gathering areas, including patient rooms and other areas identified by signage.”

It follows hospital systems in other states such as New Jersey, where the largest hospital system RWJBarnabas Health — which treats three million patients a year — has also reinstated its mask mandate.

In guidelines posted online, the hospital system also said visitors are now expected to “wear an appropriate face mask” and “maintain physical distancing.”

It added: ‘We will provide you with a new mask for source control or may ask you to replace your own mask with a hospital-supplied mask.’

Rush University Medical Center, Rush Copley Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital in Illinois have also all started requiring face masks for staff and visitors.

And in Indiana, Union Health has asked visitors to wear face masks due to an increase in respiratory viruses.

To avoid getting sick, the CDC recommends getting the annual flu vaccination and staying up to date on the Covid and RSV vaccines.

Flu and Covid shots are recommended for those aged six months and over, while the RSV vaccine is available for those aged 75 and over.

It also recommends other measures to help limit the spread of viruses, including frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick.

The US is now well into flu season, which lasts from December to February every year.