Flu, COVID, RSV hospitalizations up across the country; local health experts urge caution

ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — No one likes getting sick, but especially over the holidays when there’s often travel and gatherings with family and friends. That’s why medical experts are urging people to take the necessary precautions.

Nationwide, more and more people are being hospitalized for respiratory illnesses including flu, COVID, and RSV.

“In the winter times, a lot of respiratory viruses start to increase in terms of their spread,” said Dr. Andrew Pekosz, professor and vice chair in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “It’s troubling that we’re seeing increased hospitalizations from influenza and COVID-19 while vaccination rates are falling.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that over the last 4 weeks, hospitalizations have increased among all age groups - 200% for influenza, 51% for COVID-19, and 60% for RSV.

“There are actually a lot of respiratory viruses going around. So just because you test negative for COVID, if you're still feeling sick, you're probably infected with something whether it be flu or RSV or another respiratory virus,” said Virologist Pekosz. “So the general guidance is, you know, if you're starting to feel bad, take the time out. Maybe don't go to those holiday parties. Stay away from your family gatherings. I know that's difficult to hear. But with many of these viruses, as soon as you start to feel symptoms, you can already spread the virus.”

Getting vaccinated and using masks can provide extra protection.

“Northeast is just starting to pick up right now, in terms of influenza, and COVID cases,” said Pekosz. “Cases of RSV have been high for a couple of weeks, and they're starting to stabilize and sometimes dropped down. But again, just because case numbers are starting to drop down doesn't mean we're home-free. Because case numbers are still pretty high for all three of those viruses.”

7News reached out to multiple hospitals across the DMV to get a better idea of local hospitalization numbers. Most have not responded as of publishing this article.

Johns Hopkins Medicine did respond with data from hospitals in Maryland and D.C. The following is from centers including The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Suburban Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center:

Within the Md./D.C. Hospitals, hospitalizations for COVID, influenza, and RSV have jumped over the past 10 days from around 2-3 per day in the beginning of December to averaging more than 8 per day. That number is rising. Positive cases have also increased at both testing in the hospitals, emergency departments, and outpatient settings. That number is also rising with around 13 a day in the beginning of December to now more than 50 per day.

Click here to find numbers from the CDC on Md., Va., and D.C.