NORFOLK, Va. — Respiratory illnesses are on the rise across the country, including in Virginia.
COVID-19, RSV, and influenza are all showing elevated activity, according to the Virginia Department of Health. A VDH report released Thursday shows activity levels for flu-like illnesses were "very high" during the week of Christmas, ending December 30.
The cases made up more than 7% of emergency room and urgent care visits.
Children under 4 years old consisted of more than 17% of those visits, which ranked the highest among all age groups.
Heather Harmon-Sloan leads the COVID-19 unit for the VDH and said more gatherings around the holidays likely played a role in the increased numbers. While more people are seeking hospitals, she said state health officials expected these patterns for this time of year.
"Hospitals prepare for respiratory virus season and have not seen overwhelming activity or out-of-the-ordinary activity," she said.
The VDH investigated six flu outbreaks last week, but none of them were reported in Hampton Roads.
Harmon-Sloan said RSV activity in Virginia remains high but slightly decreased compared to prior weeks. That could indicate Virginians have already seen the virus' peak this season, she said.
As of Dec. 30, Virginia experienced a 20.7% increase in people diagnosed with COVID-19 in the emergency department.
COVID-related hospitalizations increased by 6.6%, with people aged 60 years and older most affected.
Harmon-Sloan said the VDH is also seeing an increase in ER visits among young and school-aged children for the flu. She said flu hospitalizations have tripled in the last month with an average of 60 people admitted to the hospital daily with the flu in Virginia.
"I think it’s important for us to recognize that this is still a strain on the healthcare system," said Dr. Mark Haggerty, a family physician in Virginia Beach. "So, we want to all have compassion for each other and be considerate as we try to get the care that we need as we try to get the care to the people that need it.”
Dr. Haggerty is also Sentara Health's director of medical operations for telehealth services. He said nearly half of recent visits have been for upper respiratory symptoms, which include sinus congestion, cough, sore throat, fever, and muscle aches.
"We’re seeing less severe cases and we’re seeing less of that dreaded post-COVID syndrome. So typically, people will get better quicker. We’re also seeing the COVID virus shorten the duration of incubation, so people are getting symptoms quicker after exposure than they are used to,” he said.
Dr. Haggerty said the first and best way to prevent some of the viral illnesses is to get vaccinated. There are vaccines for all three illnesses: COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Right now, people aged 60 and older are eligible for the RSV vaccine.
If you are sick, he recommends staying at home and avoiding contact with others, particularly those who are at risk of severe health conditions. He also advises some of the tips emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic: wash hands, clean surfaces, and cough or sneeze into elbow or tissue.
If you're sick, he and Harmon-Sloan said to follow recommended guidelines and consult with a health provider.
The VDH report said nearly 560 people have died in connection to pneumonia, flu, and COVID-19 this flu season.
Just last week, VDH officials announced the state's first – and so far, only reported – child to die from the flu this year is in Virginia's Eastern region, which includes Hampton Roads.