With winter setting in, Illinois public health officials are on high alert as respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV rack up cases causing hospitalizations to spike, and they're urging residents to don masks and take other safeguards, especially around the vulnerable, Chicago Sun-Times reports. Dr. Sameer Vohra of the Illinois Department of Public Health expressed concern over the "alarming rise in respiratory viruses" and emphasized the importance of healthcare facilities taking necessary precautions to protect their patients and staff.
In the past week, there has been a 22 percent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide, with some areas hitting "high" levels according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as eight west-central Illinois counties see more than 20 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, WTTW News revealed. The rise is stark but health professionals are offering clear directives to keep the spread at bay: stay hydrated, steer clear of alcohol and caffeine, keep warm, rest up thoroughly, and maintain stringent hand hygiene, advice from medical experts at the UT Southwestern Medical Center and Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, a pediatric cardiologist in Chicago.
Amid the seasonal surge, there's emphasis on doing your part to ease the strain on the healthcare system by seeing a doctor if your symptoms take a turn for the worse, Dr. Trish Perl at UT Southwestern Medical Center, advises there is no clear cut-off for when to seek help since illness progression can vary greatly, the Sun-Times advised.
