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Reported coronavirus cases statewide and locally went up in the week ending Dec. 9.
Statewide, the number increased to 3,156. Thats 148 more than in the week ending Dec. 2, which is an increase of 4.6%.
Locally, in the area covered by The Sun Chronicle, the number of reported cases increased from 55 in the week ending Dec. 2, to 60 in the week ending Dec. 9, which is an increase of 9%.
The area covered includes the communities of Attleboro, North Attleboro, Foxboro, Norfolk, Norton, Mansfield, Plainville, Rehoboth, Seekonk and Wrentham.
The number of cases are not accurate, however, because of the prevalence of home-testing kits.
Not all the positive cases found through those kits are reported because the intensity of the disease has lessened.
Also, many people who become ill dont even bother testing at this point.
For context, the highest number of new reported cases statewide for one week was recorded on Jan. 14, 2022, at 132,557.
The highest number locally for one week was 3,463, recorded on Jan. 13, 2022.
All told, since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, the area has recorded 49,522 cases.
In the week ending Dec. 9, the reported case counts in the communities covered by The Sun Chronicle were:
Statewide, the number was 3,156 confirmed cases with 1,089 probable cases, for a total of 2,095,576 cases.
The number of confirmed deaths statewide was 25, and the number of probable deaths was three for the week ending Dec. 9.
The number of confirmed deaths statewide since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 is 23,069, and the number of confirmed and probable deaths is 26,601.
A new poll for the area has been taken recently and the death total, with just seven communities reporting, was 501.
Most of the deaths hit the elderly.
George W. Rhodes can be reached at 508-236-0432.
12:48:38 PM IST, 18 December 2023
Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, accused the state government on Monday of not taking any steps to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the southern state. Speaking to reporters here, Satheesan said that even though 89 per cent of the COVID cases in the country are in the state, the Kerala government has not provided clear information about the action taken. "The spread of COVID-19 is intensifying in the state. However, the government has not yet issued any clear statements on this," the Congress leader alleged. He further stated that at the national level, the Ministry of Health reports that out of more than 1,800 cases in the country, over 1,600 cases have been reported in Kerala.
12:09:15 PM IST, 18 December 2023
11:29:00 AM IST, 18 December 2023
China is facing a shortage of blood -- a problem blamed on the current spike in respiratory illness, the cold snap and a fall in the number of donors, the media reported. Local authorities and blood centres in several of the biggest provinces, including Henan, Shandong, Fujian, Hubei and Shanxi, have warned of a sharp drop in the number of donations and appealed for people to contribute, South China Morning Post reported. According to state-controlled news outlet ThePaper.cn, blood stocks in Xinxiang, a city in Henan province, were running so low that they threatened the supply for operations and other hospital needs, SCMP reported. The city's publicity department and local Red Cross Society issued an urgent appeal on Friday, saying demand was surging but fewer people were donating because it was winter. Yuncheng, a city in the central province of Shanxi, issued a similar appeal for donors, saying donations had fallen dramatically after temperatures "dropped off a cliff" while respiratory illnesses surged.
11:04:11 AM IST, 18 December 2023
People hospitalised with seasonal influenza can suffer long-term, negative health effects, especially involving their lungs and airways, much like the effects of long Covid, according to a study. The research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, compared the viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu. It shows that in the 18 months after infection, patients hospitalised for either COVID-19 or seasonal influenza faced an increased risk of death, hospital readmission, and health problems in many organ systems.
10:40:24 AM IST, 18 December 2023
The vast majority of cases are infected by the JN.1 variant, a sublineage of BA.2.86.
10:34:57 AM IST, 18 December 2023
Estonia's prime minister has tested positive for COVID, leading to the cancellation of Sunday's meeting between the leaders of the Baltic states and Poland's new prime minister, Donald Tusk, the Polish government said on X. Tusk had said he would meet the leaders in Estonia, including Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, to discuss the Ukraine war and safe borders.
10:27:41 AM IST, 18 December 2023
India logged 335 new COVID-19 infections while the number of active cases increased to 1,701, according to the Union health ministry. India's COVID-19 caseload stands at 4.50 crore (4,50,04,816). The death toll climbed to 5,33,316 as five more people -- four in Kerala and one in Uttar Pradesh -- succumbed to the viral disease, the data updated at 8 am stated. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,44,69,799. The national recovery rate stands at 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry's website. The case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent.
10:23:41 AM IST, 18 December 2023
10:21:42 AM IST, 18 December 2023
In the wake of the surge in respiratory diseases and new JN.1 COVID sub-variant, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the virus is evolving and changing and urged the member states to continue with strong surveillance and sequence sharing. The global body also shared a video of its COVID-19 technical lead, Maria Van Kerkhove, who explained the reason for the recent surges and what precautions can be taken. "Dr @mvankerkhove talks about the current surge in respiratory diseases #COVID19 and JN.1 subvariant. WHO continues to assess the situation. Follow WHO's public health advice to keep your families and friends safe during this holiday season," WHO posted on X (formerly Twitter).
10:03:58 AM IST, 18 December 2023
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar described anti-national narratives as a Covid virus and said they have to be neutralised. He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of 8th three-day international seminar on 'Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam: Shrimad Bhagwadgita & Global Unity' organised by Kurukshetra University and Kurukshetra Development Board. The event was organised in Kurukshetra as part of the ongoing International Gita Festival there. Dhankhar said either in a planned way or due to lack of understanding, a few people take pleasure in floating anti-national narratives. "It should not happen. You blunt it (such narratives). It is like a Covid virus that has to be neutralised," he said.
09:38:10 AM IST, 18 December 2023
The reported symptoms encompass fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache, and, in certain instances, mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Health authorities stress that the majority of patients exhibit these mild upper respiratory symptoms, typically showing improvement within four to five days.
09:37:28 AM IST, 18 December 2023
While the majority of cases in Kerala are described as clinically mild, health authorities underscore the significance of maintaining continuous vigilance and preparedness to adeptly address the developing situation associated with COVID-19 variants.
09:34:39 AM IST, 18 December 2023
The Union Ministry of Health has taken proactive measures in response to the detection of a case involving the JN.1 subvariant of COVID in Kerala during the routine surveillance conducted by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).A simulated drill is currently in progress in health facilities nationwide to assess public health and hospital preparedness. District collectors are overseeing this exercise, which commenced on December 13 and is slated for conclusion by December 18, 2023.
09:30:10 AM IST, 18 December 2023
Amid the rise in respiratory illnesses and the emergence of the new JN.1 COVID sub-variant, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized that the virus is undergoing evolution and mutation. The organization called on member states to maintain robust surveillance and share sequencing data.The WHO also disseminated a video featuring Maria Van Kerkhove, the technical lead on COVID-19, providing insights into the reasons behind the recent upsurge in cases and recommending precautionary measures.
09:28:37 AM IST, 18 December 2023
In the face of escalating COVID cases in Kerala, which includes the identification of a case involving the subvariant JN.1, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao dismissed the current necessity to impose movement restrictions at the border. He emphasized that the government has implemented comprehensive precautionary measures to address the situation.
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NEW DELHI: A new sub-variant, named JN.1, of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has been identified in a woman in Kerala, raising concerns and emphasising the need for continued alert in the fight against the viral disease. The Centre on December 16 confirmed the presence of JN.1 subvariant of Covid-19 in a patient from Kerala, the first such case in India. JN.1 is closely related to the BA.2.86 variant, also referred to as Pirola, which has been detected in the US and China recently. As per the government, sample of a Covid positive patient from Thiruvananthapuram came positive for JN.1 on December 8 as part of the ongoing routine surveillance. What is JN.1? This virus is a novel variant of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.86, (also known as Pirola) of SARS-CoV-2. It features an extra mutation on its spike protein. The variant has the capability to spread rapidly and evade immunity, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and caution in response to the evolving situation in India. What are the symptoms? The symptoms of Covid-19 remain consistent across all variants. According to American health agency CDC's suggestion, the JN.1 coronavirus variant may or may not induce distinct symptoms compared to other variations. Reported symptoms of JN.1 include fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache, and mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Should we worry about it? The CDC has alerted that it lacks information on whether the strain exhibits distinct symptoms from prior coronavirus variants. The agency has cautioned that JN.1 demonstrates heightened ability to evade the immune system, heightening concerns about increased transmissibility.
WHO urges 'strong surveillance' In the wake of the surge, the World Health Organisation (WHO) urged the member states to continue with strong surveillance and sequence sharing. The global body also shared a video of its Covid-19 technical lead, Maria Van Kerkhove, who explained the reason for the recent surges and what precautions can be taken. "Dr @mvankerkhove talks about the current surge in respiratory diseases #COVID19 and JN.1 subvariant. WHO continues to assess the situation. Follow WHO's public health advice to keep your families and friends safe during this holiday season," WHO posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Global concerns China has identified seven cases of the Covid caused by subvariant JN.1, featuring an extra spike protein mutation. Discovered in the US in September 2023, JN.1 has since surfaced in 11 other nations. The CDC suggests it's too early to predict its wider spread based on current information, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring. Meanwhile, India on Sunday logged 335 new Covid-19 infections while the number of active cases increased to 1,701, according to the Union health ministry. Health officials have stressed the importance of vigilance, advocating preventive measures like hand hygiene, updated vaccinations, and seeking prompt medical attention for any worrisome symptoms. A mock drill is underway in health facilities across states, evaluating public health and hospital readiness. This exercise, overseen by district collectors, commenced on December 13 and is scheduled for completion by December 18, 2023. While the majority of cases in Kerala are reported to be clinically mild, the health authorities emphasise the importance of ongoing vigilance and preparedness to effectively manage the evolving situation related to Covid-19 variants. The India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a network of Genomic Laboratories, has been actively monitoring the genomic aspects of Covid-19 in India. The health authorities highlight that most patients experience these mild upper respiratory symptoms, which typically improve within four to five days.
Hospitals, Health centres to increase testing: Ktaka Health Minister after Kerala reports cases of new COVID-19 strain
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The development comes as a case of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 has been detected in Kerala
India on Sunday reported 335 fresh coronavirus cases and five deaths. Four people succumbed to COVID-19 in Kerala whereas one person died in Uttar Pradesh. The number of active cases crossed 1,700 and went up to 1,701,as per the Union Health Ministry data.
India's total caseload stands at 4.50 crore and the death toll at 5.33 lakh, as per the data. More than 4.44 crore people have recovered from coronavirus so far. While the national recovery rate stands at 98.81 per cent, the case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent. Around 220.67 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in India so far, as per the ministry.
The development comes as a case of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 has been detected in Kerala under the routine surveillance by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). The sub-variant was detected in a positive RT-PCR sample from Thiruvananthapuram's Karakulam on December 8.
The sample, belonging to a 79-year-old woman, tested positive for COVID-19 on November 18. The woman had mild symptoms of influenza-like illness and has since recovered from COVID. A central government release said that the Union Health Ministry in touch with Kerala authorities.
"There has been an increasing trend of Covid cases from Kerala since the last few weeks. This has been attributed to an increase in several samples from ILI cases being referred for testing. A majority of these cases are clinically mild and recovering on their own at their homes without any treatment," the press release said.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday said that the COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 was not a cause for concern. George told the media that the sub-variant was detected months ago in Indian passengers screened at the Singapore airport.She, however, asked people to remain cautious and urged those with comorbidities to remain careful.
"There is no need for any concern. It's a sub-variant. It was just found here. Months ago, this variant was detected in a few Indians who were screened at the Singapore airport. It's just that Kerala has identified the variant here through genome sequencing. There is no need to worry. The situation is being closely monitored," she said.
A study of hospitalized Veterans Affairs (VA) patients found that combination therapy was not associated with decreased mortality for multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter infections, researchers reported yesterday in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology.
The retrospective cohort study, led by a team of VA researchers, looked at VA patients who were hospitalized with MDR Acinetobacter bacteremia and received antibiotics 2 days prior through 5 days after the culture date from 2012 through 2018. The aim was to assess the impact of antibiotic treatments on in-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year mortality and costs.
MDRAcinetobacter spp.was identified in 184 patients. Most patients were older (mean age, 67 years), White, non-Hispanic men. The vast majority of cultures identified wereA baumannii (90%), while 3% wereA lwoffii,and 7% were otherAcinetobacter species.Half (50.5%) of the infected patients died in hospital, 44% within 30 days, and 67.9% within 1 year.
Penicillins/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations (51.1%) and carbapenems (51.6%) were the most prescribed antibiotics. In unadjusted analysis, extended-spectrum cephalosporins and penicillins/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations were associated with a decreased odds of 30-day mortality, but the effect was insignificant after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21 to 1.05 and aOR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.37 to 1.53, respectively). There was no association between combination therapy vs monotherapy and 30-day mortality (aOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.72 to 3.32).
The results are noteworthy, the authors say, because while the Sanford Guide and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend combination therapy (high-dose ampicillin-sulbactam plus an additional agent) for treating severe MDRAcinetobacterinfections, the findings add to evidence from prior studies that have found limited improved clinical outcomes with combination therapy.
"Our results provide additional comparative effectiveness demonstrating a lack of benefit to combination therapy given within 2 through +5 days from the culture date," they wrote.
Kerala has detected the first JN,1 subvariant of COVID in the country in a 79-year-old woman. Experts believe that while vigilance should be increased, there is no reason to panic. File image/Reuters
We are just a few days away from bidding adieu to 2023 but it seems that COVID-19 is here to stay. On Saturday, the Centre confirmed the presence of the JN.1 subvariant of coronavirus in a patient from Kerala a first for the country.
The confirmation of this subvariant of COVID-19 has put the Centre and states on alert; the Health Ministry is in touch with state health authorities and monitoring the situation at points of entry. Moeover, a mock drill has been conducted across health facilities in various states to assess their public health and hospital preparedness measures.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also said that the virus is evolving and changing and urged the member states to continue with strong surveillance and sequence sharing.
With the detection of this subvariant of COVID-19 in India, the question that is being asked then is: Should we be worried?
What is the JN.1 subvariant?
JN.1 was first detected in Luxembourg in August followed by England, Iceland, France, the United States and China. According to COVID scientists, JN.1 is a descendant of the BA.2.86, also known as Pirola which came from Omicron. Amesh Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, was quoted as telling Prevention.com, JN.1 is another Omicron variant.
According to experts, the virus has once again mutated; the BA.2.86 underwent a Flip mutation and turned into the JN.1, which now has the ability to bind to our cells even stronger than other Omicron variants and as an increased transmissibility too.
Dr Thomas Russo, a professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York, stated that JN.1 has an additional mutation on its spike protein from BA.2.86, which is what COVID uses to latch onto your cells and make you sick.
How prevalent is JN.1?
The short answer: very. In the United States, the JN.1 subvariant accounts for more than one-fifth of all infections. Data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that in the two-week period ending on 9 December, while HV.1 accounted for about 30 per cent of COVID-19 cases in the US, it was the JN.1 subvariant, which was the second-most prevalent strain, making up about 21 per cent of cases, followed by EG.5.
In fact, as recently as 14 December, the CDC said, The continued growth of JN.1 suggests that it is either more transmissible or better at evading our immune systems.
In China too, cases of JN.1 have been detected. The Asian nation has detected seven cases of infection as recently as 16 December. The health authorities said the prevalence of JN.1 was very low in the country. However, it added that it couldnt rule out the possibility of it becoming the dominant strain in China due to factors including imported cases.
Many scientists note that JN.1 could be the reason for the rise in COVID cases in the country. But there are others who say its still too early to tell if JN.1 is to blame for these levels. The CDC noted that the increase in infections could be the regular ebb and flow of COVID.
And Mark Cameron, PhD, associate professor and infectious disease researcher at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, also concurred with the CDC. Speaking to Health.com, he said that the rise in COVID infections meant that the virus is now reaching a wider range of people, many of whom are more vulnerable to severe disease. So even though these numbers are ticking up in tandem with JN.1s rise, it doesnt necessarily mean that the variant is more deadly.
Also read: December Blues: Is COVID-19 making a comeback amid holiday season?
What are the symptoms of JN.1?
Medical experts say it is still unknown if JN.1 causes different symptoms from other variants. In general, symptoms of COVID-19 tend to be similar across variants, the CDC said. The types of symptoms and how severe they are usually depend more on a persons immunity and overall health rather than which variant causes the infection.
Dr Nighat Arif pointed out that those infected by JN.1would get a temperature, a runny nose and a headache and lose their sense of smell. However, some would get diarrhoea and stomach cramps. Another tell-tale sign of JN.1 is the extreme fatigue caused, with some complaining that they feel shattered after catching it.
Doctors have also been quick to point out that vaccines seem to be the effective way of evading the virus. Dr William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville, Tennessee, said that people should get their vaccination before they go shopping, attend religious services or travel. He also recommended masking in densely populated indoor areas as another layer of protection.
What do we know about the Indian case?
In India, a 79-year-old woman became the first JN.1 case to be registered. It was detected in an RT-PCR-positive sample from Karakulam in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala on 8 December.
According to doctors, the elderly woman had mild symptoms of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and has since recovered from COVID.
Commenting on the case, Kerala health minister Veena George said that the detection of the infection was not a reason to panic. Speaking to the media about the new variant, George said this was detected months ago in Indian passengers who were screened at Singapore Airport.
There is no need for any concern. Its a sub-variant. It was just found here. Months ago, this variant was detected in a few Indians who were screened at the Singapore Airport. Its just that Kerala has identified the variant here through genome sequencing. There is no need to worry. The situation is being closely monitored, she said.
She, however, asked people to remain cautious and said those with comorbidities should be careful.
And should we be concerned?
Experts across the nation have said that there is no reason to panic and measures such as masking, hand washing should be practised. Dr Anita Mathew, Director-Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Mulund told Economic Times, There is no need to panic as in general, all respiratory illness numbers increase during winter and so far the disease hasnt left people gasping for breath. Hence, though we need to be cautious and mindful to prevent the illness, there is no need to panic.
Dr Ishwar Gilada, Secretary General Peoples Health Organisation-India and Organised Medicine Academic Guild-OMAG, also added that so far the new subvariant JN.1 has not manifested severe symptoms. There are no severe infections, no ICU admissions, no requirement of oxygen and ventilator, he said.
Senior Consultant in Chest Medicine at Delhis Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Ujjwal Prakash told news agency ANI that although vigilance is crucial, there is no need for people to panic. You need to be more vigilant. I dont think that theres reason to panic or do anything extra than just being vigilant.
Echoing similar sentiments, health expert Dr Niroj Misha said that COVID variant JN.1 is a mild disease which has minimum symptoms and only 0.5 per cent requiring some assistance.
Health Expert Dr Niroj Mishra on December 17 told Economic Times, This variant has been deducted first in the USA and now it is actually there are cases in Singapore. Last week, 56,000 of cases have been detected in Singapore. It is spreading faster and it is a mild disease. Out of 56,000 only 350 required hospitalisation and nine in the ICU. There are some cases detected from November in India but so far we dont have big impact. There are 312 case detected today but even this spread in large number of people then also 99.5 per cent will be detected and have minimum symptoms, only 0.5 per cent requiring some assistance.
With inputs from agencies
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Published on: December 18, 2023 09:54:49 IST
Seventeen states are seeing "high" or "very high" levels of respiratory illness activity as COVID-19 and flu hospitalizations increase across the U.S., new federal data shows.
Weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations rose to 23,432 for the week ending Dec. 9, up from 22,730 the previous week, according to data updated Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This is the fifth consecutive week of increasing COVID-19 hospitalizations, reaching levels not seen since the end of February. However, they remain lower than rates seen at the same time last year.
COVID-19 hospitalization rates are still elevated for the oldest and youngest Americans. Those aged 65 and older have the highest weekly rate at 13.9 per 100,000 followed by those aged 50 to 64 at 3.1 per 100,000 and those aged 0 to 4 at 2.7 per 100,000.
Hospital admission levels are increasing with the mid-Atlantic and Midwest seeing a rising number of counties meeting the "moderate" level, between 10 and 19.9 hospitalizations per 100,000. Nearly 25% of all counties in the U.S. are at this level, CDC data shows.
Flu activity is also increasing with the Southeast, South-Central and Western U.S. reporting the highest levels, according to CDC data.
Flu hospitalizations are continuing to rise with the number of new admissions reaching 7,090 for the week ending Dec. 9, up from 5,816 admitted the week ending Dec. 2, data shows.
In the past month, for all age groups, hospitalizations have increased 200% for COVID-19 and 51% for flu.
Meanwhile, RSV weekly hospitalization rates have slightly declined from 3.2 per 100,000 for the week ending Dec. 2 to 2.3 per 100,000 the week ending Dec. 9. RSV hospitalizations remain elevated among young children under age 4 and are increasing among older adults over age 65, but the U.S. may be turning a corner.
"We think we are just at the peak [of RSV], which means we're seeing the most number of cases we expect in the season, may start to see some declines already in some of our southern and southeast states, but pretty active across the country," Dr. Mandy Cohen, CDC director, told ABC News.
Some hospitals, particularly pediatric hospitals, have reported that they are at capacity. Janet Weis Children's Hospital in Mechanicsville, Pennsylvania, told local ABC News affiliate WNEP that it's run out of beds due to an influx of children with respiratory viruses including COVID-19, flu and RSV in addition to other illnesses and surgeries.
Geisinger Health System, which manages the hospital, told the station that about 15% of pediatric beds at nearby facilities remained unavailable for use after the pandemic, and is contributing to the flood of patients.
"There's a lot of other illnesses that at times require a short hospitalization, but unfortunately, other times require a longer hospitalization, and that adds to the capacity crunch," Dr. Frank Maffei, chair of pediatrics for the Geisinger Women and Children's Institute, told WNEP.
Cohen told ABC News that there are isolated hospitals experiencing strain but, for the most part, pediatric hospitals have told the CDC they've been able to manage treating patients.
On Thursday, the CDC sent an alert to healthcare providers, encouraging them to administer COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines as soon as possible.
Low vaccination rates, along with the spread of respiratory illnesses "could lead to more severe disease and increased healthcare capacity strain in the coming weeks," according to the federal agency.
As of Friday, 18.3% of U.S. adults have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine and 42.2% have received the flu vaccine.
"We have the tools to protect folks and we don't think that enough of our folks across the country have gotten vaccinated," Cohen said. "So, we wanted to send out that alert to our medical community to make sure they knew it wasn't too late to vaccinate, and that there are specific things that they could do."
The alert also encouraged doctors to recommend antiviral medications for COVID-19 and flu patients who qualify.
Experts have previously told ABC News that Paxlovid, a COVID-19 treatment from Pfizer for those at high risk of severe illness, has been a relatively underused treatment because some may feel they don't need the drug or doctors may feel hesitant to prescribe it due to concerns about how the medication interacts with other prescription drugs.
"As we see more cases and more folks getting sick over the next number of weeks, as we expect, we want to make sure we're reminding everyone about the treatment options that we have for COVID-19," Cohen said. "And for flu, reminding doctors to use those treatmentsSo we wanted to send that alert to make sure that it was top of mind and that folks are both vaccinating -- because it's not too late to vaccinate -- but also using treatment options for their patients."
Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer for Boston Children's Hospital and an ABC News contributor, added that increases in respiratory viruses are often typical for the colder weather months and not cause for concern.
"These increases in respiratory illnesses are typical for this time of year, aligning with seasonal patterns," he said. "There is no need to panic, but it is important to stay vigilant and follow health guidelines including staying up to date with recommended vaccines."
Hospitals and emergency rooms could be forced to ration care by the end of this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Thursday, saying recent trends in COVID-19 and influenza are now on track to again strain America's health care system. The new COVID variant JN.1 is making up an increasing share of cases, the CDC's tracking shows.
"COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising quickly," the agency said in its weekly update. "Since the summer, public health officials have been tracking a rise in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which is caused by COVID-19. Influenza activity is growing in most parts of the country. RSV activity remains high in many areas."
The CDC has been urging people to get vaccinated as the peak of this year's mix of three seasonal respiratory viruses influenza, COVID-19 and RSV is nearing.
In pediatric hospitals, the CDC says beds "are already nearly as full as they were this time last year" in some parts of the country. Data from emergency rooms published Wednesday tracked emergency room visits nearly doubling in school-age children last week.
The increase, driven largely by an acceleration in flu cases, follows weeks of largely plateauing emergency room figures nationwide ahead of Thanksgiving.
Similar to this time last year, influenza emergency room visits are now outpacing COVID-19 for the first time in months across most age groups. Only in seniors do rates of COVID-19 remain many times higher than influenza.
Nursing homes have seen a steep rise in reported COVID-19 across recent weeks. In the Midwestern region spanning Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, infections in nursing home residents have already topped rates seen at last year's peak.
A new COVID-19 variant called JN.1 has been driving a growing share of the latest wave of infections, officials estimate.
The JN.1 lineage a closely related descendant of the highly mutated BA.2.86 variant that scientists first warned about over the summer was estimated last week in the CDC's projections to make up as much as 29% of infections nationwide. That's up from 8.8% at the end of November.
Health officials have been closely tracking the acceleration of BA.2.86 and its descendants, like JN.1, around the world in recent months. More than 4 in 10 test results from the CDC's airport testing program for international travelers have turned up these strains.
A panel of experts convened by the World Health Organization concluded this month that JN.1's changes were not steep enough to warrant a new revision to this season's vaccines, but acknowledged early data suggesting these shots were less effective at neutralizing the strain.
"CDC projects that JN.1 will continue to increase as a proportion of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences. It is currently the fastest-growing variant in the United States," the CDC said last week.
"Right now, we do not know to what extent JN.1 may be contributing to these increases or possible increases through the rest of December like those seen in previous years," they wrote.
However, so far the CDC had said that so far JN.1's fast spread does not appear to be leading to any upticks in the severity posed by COVID-19.
As COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses have accelerated in recent weeks, health officials say they have also been closely tracking an unprecedented drop in vaccinations this season.
Data from insurance claims suggest flu vaccinations in adults are around 8 million doses behind vaccination levels seen last year. The CDC's survey data suggests flu shots in children are also down around 5 percentage points from the same time last year.
"Covering the missed volume is going to be very difficult or not possible," vaccine manufacturers concluded at a recent stakeholder meeting with the CDC, according to a readout from the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit.
Health officials have also been urging providers to redouble their efforts to buoy COVID-19 vaccinations this year, especially for those most at-risk of severe disease like seniors.
In nursing homes, just a third of residents and less than 1 in 10 staff are vaccinated with this season's COVID-19 shot.
"We aren't seeing the uptake in vaccines that we would like to see," CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen told doctors at an American Medical Association event Tuesday.
Cohen also cited survey data on uptake of the RSV vaccinations, which were greenlighted for the first time this year in older adults. Around 16% of adults ages 60 and older say they have gotten the shot.
"We acknowledge that is too low and it is one of the reasons we wanted to have this conversation," she said.
Alexander Tin is a digital reporter for CBS News based in the Washington, D.C. bureau. He covers the Biden administration's public health agencies, including the federal response to infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19.
