America's increasing 'triple threat' of Covid, flu and RSV has spurred the return of face masks in hospitals across the country.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that respiratory virus cases and hospitalizations are increasing, with flu admissions increasing 48 percent in the week ending December 23 compared to the previous seven days – and almost 90 percent has increased. during the same period in 2019, before the pandemic.
Covid hospitalizations also rose 17 percent in a week, while cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which the CDC director said had “peaked” last month, also rose again.
And children's hospitals in some states are feeling the pinch of the surge, with doctors saying this is the “worst” winter virus season they've ever seen.
The numbers, which do not yet reflect the impact of festive gatherings, have prompted hospitals in at least seven states to scale back mask mandates for staff, patients and visitors over the past 30 days.
In all, more than 30 hospital systems in 16 states recently rolled back restrictions.
This week, Mass General Brigham Hospital in Massachusetts became the latest hospital to again require masks — saying the measure was necessary because so many people in its wards were sick with respiratory viruses.
DECEMBER 23: The above map shows flu-like illness levels by state for the week ending December 23, shortly before festive gatherings. This shows that more than seven states had very high levels of disease
DECEMBER 9: The above map shows flu-like illness levels by state for the week ending December 9
Surveillance shows Covid cases are increasing, with wastewater testing data showing a sharp rise in cases
There are also signs that RSV infections are starting to increase again, after previously trending downwards. CDC Director Mandy Cohen had said they appeared to have reached their peak
Although cases and hospitalizations have risen in recent weeks, these numbers are likely to rise further as they begin to reflect infections resulting from large holiday gatherings.
Some experts also warn that cases will continue to rise in January as cold weather forces more people indoors, where it's easier for respiratory diseases to spread.
Amid the uptick, hospitals are bringing back face masks in an effort to stop the spread of respiratory diseases within their units.
But studies have not been able to definitively show that face coverings prevent infections with respiratory viruses – despite millions of people being forced to follow the rules.
This is evident from the latest data on the flu In the week to December 23, 14,732 people were admitted to hospital with the virus, compared to 9,930 in the previous seven-day period.
The positivity rate for flu tests – the percentage that detects the virus – rose from 10.5 per cent in the week ending December 16 to 13.1 per cent in the week to December 23.
In the US, about a dozen states are now reporting “very high” levels of respiratory activity and seven states – Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina and Tennessee – are reporting the highest levels as measured by the CDC.
Just two weeks ago, only two states — Louisiana and South Carolina — reported the highest levels of flu-like illness.
The map above shows states where hospitals are reducing face mask mandates in their units for staff, patients and visitors in response to rising illnesses
Above you see Covid hospital admissions up to the week ending December 23. They are up 17 percent in a week
The above shows that flu hospital admissions have increased by 48 percent this season to more than 14,000 admissions in the week to December 23.
Estimates suggest that 73,000 people have been hospitalized with flu so far this virus season, compared to 39,000 at the same time in 2019 – before the pandemic.
It is estimated that 4,500 people have died from the flu so far this virus season, compared to 2,100 at this point in 2019.
Data showed 29,000 people were hospitalized with the virus in the week to December 23, compared to 24,000 in the previous seven-day period.
There were also 1,545 deaths recorded in the week to December 2, the latest available, up from 1,328 from the previous week.
Wastewater research showed Covid cases had risen by 15 per cent in a week, with 997 cases per milliliter detected in the week to December 23, compared to 867 the week before.
Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College in Texas, said CNN: 'It's a surge of respiratory pathogens in the winter, especially respiratory viruses.
“So it's Covid, it's flu, and we can't downplay the importance of RSV.
“So it's a triple threat, and perhaps a fourth threat, because we also have pneumococcal pneumonia, which complicates a lot of these viral infections.”
He added: “Remember, all of these numbers predate people gathering for the holidays. So don't be disappointed or surprised that we see an even bigger bump as we head into January.”
In response to climbing cases, Mass General Brigham became the latest health care system to bring back face masks today, saying the coverings would be mandatory for staff members and “strongly encouraged” for patients and visitors.
The hospital system said in a statement: “With the percentage of patients presenting to emergency rooms and outpatient clinics with respiratory illnesses in the region exceeding 2.85 percent, our hospital will begin requiring face masks for healthcare workers who interact directly with patients .
“Patients and visitors will also be strongly encouraged to wear a facility-issued face mask.”
The Dana Farber Cancer Institute last week re-implemented face masks for patient-facing staff, patients and visitors, while the area Boston Medical Center has also already brought back masks.
In Chicago, local health officials have urged hospitals to “step up” their efforts to control respiratory viruses. Endeavor Health and Cook County Health in the area are among those bringing back masks for visitors.
In Los Angeles County, California, public health units have reintroduced masking requirements for staff and visitors due to a “notable” increase in infections.
Hospital systems in New York, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Rhode Island also brought back face masks for staff and patients in December.
Rhode Island's Care New England and Lifespan made the call Dec. 28, saying the masks would help limit the spread of viruses.
They join more than 30 health care systems in 14 states that had already implemented the policy — including in Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.