As Illinois grapples with a surge in respiratory viruses, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging healthcare facilities to tighten their defenses, recommending increased use of masks and screening measures to curb the escalation, according to a recent health alert. With COVID-19 hospitalizations soaring and the flu and RSV also wreaking havoc, officials stress the importance of these mitigation efforts to protect patients and healthcare staff.
In an effort to stave off the viruses, IDPH is following the CDC’s lead, backing the call for universal masking in high-threat areas and even in counties where other respiratory illnesses pose elevated risks. Although these areas might not be experiencing high levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the numbers are still cause for concern. Specifically, 10 counties, including Sangamon, have been identified at a high level for COVID-19 hospitalizations, signaling a doubling from just five counties previously; this category indicates more than 20 hospitalizations per 100,000 people in the last week, while an additional 41 counties lie at a medium level.
Hospital admissions due to COVID-19 have jumped by 22 percent over the previous week with 1,225 new patients, yet the threat extends beyond the coronavirus as RSV drives pediatric hospitalizations up, and both flu and COVID-19 test positives rise steadily for a third week in a row. "With the alarming rise in respiratory viruses we are seeing across the state and the country, IDPH is recommending healthcare facilities take precautions to reduce the spread of these viruses and protect their patients, staffs and visitors," IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra told the press.
Beyond masking initiatives, facilities are advised to diligently screen for symptoms, promote rigorous hand hygiene, and urge symptomatic individuals to forgo non-urgent hospital visits or opt for telehealth services. At a time when the state is seeing surges across various respiratory ailments, all actions are urged by the IDPH to keep infections in check during these heightened times. With an eye on the approaching holiday season, IDPH is also doubling down on preventative measures, insisting on the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19, flu, and, where available, RSV to aid in decreasing the potential for widespread transmission.
Amidst this uphill battle, the federal government too plays a role, offering four free at-home COVID tests per household obtainable via the COVID.gov website, while programs like the Bridge Access Program and the Vaccines for Children Program assist in vaccine access for the uninsured and eligible children. For those exhibiting symptoms, Illinoisans have options for no-cost telehealth services, including the SIU School of Medicine Covid Test to Treat services and the NIH Test to Treat line. As the festive period inches closer, IDPH is driving home the message: take precautions seriously, get tested, and don't risk turning the holiday cheer into a vector for viral spread.
For current information, IDPH has introduced an Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard, updated weekly, to keep the public informed on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity, and demographic data. Simultaneously, a new CDC dashboard offers weekly updates at the county level on COVID-19, flu, and RSV levels, tools that are pivotal as Illinois navigates an uptick in respiratory illnesses that show no signs of waning.
