The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning on Thursday regarding a surge of respiratory illnesses, which includes the flu, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), and COVID-19.
The CDC expressed concern that if hospitalizations continue to increase, hospitals may be compelled to implement triage care. Some regions of the country are already seeing pediatric hospitals nearly as full as they were at the same time last year. If this trend persists, it is likely to put significant strain on emergency departments and healthcare facilities.
The CDC emphasized that this strain on the healthcare system could lead to delays in care for patients with other serious health conditions. They also noted that the peak of respiratory illness activity has not yet been reached.
This warning comes one week after CDC director Mandy Cohen released a video advising people on winter precautions, including the continued use of masks, especially as new variants of COVID-19, like the Pirola clan, outpace previously dominant ones.
The CDC strongly encouraged all Americans, especially those over the age of 60, to get vaccinated against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. They emphasized that increased vaccination rates could lead to fewer hospitalizations and ultimately save lives.
