Just as throngs of people hit the roads and fly the skies to be with friends and family for the holidays, a trio of now-familiar respiratory viruses are showing up again.
COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, have put a damper on holiday gatherings since 2020. This year, all three are causing a rise in emergency room visits and hospitalizations, but the numbers in the U.S. and Georgia are not as high as in previous years.
Georgia and 14 other states are listed as having a “high” number of respiratory illnesses, according to surveillance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data is based on the number of people going to the doctor with flu symptoms — fever, plus cough or sore throat. That means it could include cases of people who are suffering from other viruses such as COVID or RSV.
While public health experts emphasize COVID is still very much us, many families are approaching the holidays just as they did before the pandemic. Most adults in the U.S. — about 75% — say they are not worried about getting COVID over the holidays, according to a recent survey by KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation. Only 31% said they are worried they will spread COVID to people close to them.
The public is divided on taking precautions this upcoming season, with half of adults saying they are planning to take at least one of several precautions to limit the spread of COVID this fall and winter such as taking a COVID test before vising with family and friends, while the other half are not planning to take any of the precautions asked about in the survey.