Respiratory Virus Season Continues: COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV Still Sweeping Through Washington State
As the holiday season comes to an end and gatherings start to slow down, experts are warning that we are still in the midst of respiratory virus season. The “Big Three” viruses – COVID-19, influenza, and RSV – continue to sweep through Washington state and the rest of the U.S., keeping community transmission levels high and putting strain on healthcare facilities. This is especially concerning as a new COVID variant, known as JN.1, takes hold.
Some positive news has emerged from recent reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The fall rise in COVID hospitalizations has slowed down, and flu hospitalizations have declined in recent weeks. Additionally, RSV hospitalizations in Washington state have dropped significantly since late December. However, experts caution that there may be fluctuations in the numbers before and after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. They also note that when kids go back to school, there is often an increase in cases.
The CDC reported that COVID hospitalizations in Washington started to rise in September and early October before taking a dip in November. However, they ticked back up around mid-December, accounting for about 3.4% of total hospitalizations. As of January 13, that figure dropped to about 2.6% of total hospitalizations. Emergency visits, hospital admissions, and ICU beds occupied by respiratory virus-related cases have all decreased from the previous week.
Although the numbers are not as high as during the surge of the omicron variant two years ago or at this time last year, the amount of respiratory virus circulating throughout Washington is still at elevated levels. More than 400 people have died from COVID so far this season. Dr. Scott Lindquist, the state’s health officer, emphasizes the importance of continuing to practice preventive measures such as hand-washing, mask-wearing, and staying home when sick.
To address the rising cases, more than a dozen local health departments and hospital systems in the region have come up with a plan to determine when to bring back indoor masking requirements in healthcare facilities. The plan involves reactivating masking policies if the transmission alert thresholds for RSV, flu, or COVID are reached for emergency visits or if the CDC’s COVID hospital admissions hit medium levels. The aim is to balance community disease transmission rates with the operational needs of healthcare facilities.
Currently, both flu and RSV hospitalizations are down in Washington, but they are still above their transmission alert thresholds, accounting for 2% and 1% of ER visits, respectively. COVID patients make up about 2% of ER visits, just below its alert threshold. This indicates that there is still a significant amount of community transmission of these infections.
Several hospitals in the Puget Sound region have already brought back indoor masking for staff, patients, and visitors. Dr. Lindquist acknowledges the resistance some people may feel towards widespread masking mandates and emphasizes that local control is important. He believes that the state has hit its peak for flu and RSV but warns that another surge is not impossible.
Predicting future COVID waves is challenging, especially with the emergence of the new variant JN.1. State data shows that JN.1 accounts for less than 3% of infections in Washington. However, due to limited testing, it is difficult to accurately determine the number of infections caused by any one variant. Public health experts also look at wastewater concentration levels as an indicator of what could be ahead. Nationally, the CDC reported “very high” COVID activity in wastewater, though this data has some limitations.
Dr. Eric Chow, chief of communicable disease, epidemiology, and immunization for Public Health – Seattle & King County, advises Washingtonians to continue taking precautions against severe flu, RSV, and COVID infections. This includes getting vaccinated, wearing masks in crowded indoor settings, staying home when sick, and considering antiviral treatment if necessary. Vaccination rates have dropped significantly, with only 16.8% of Washingtonians considered up-to-date with the new 2023 shots.
In terms of testing, health officials recommend getting tested in a medical setting to determine the appropriate treatment options. They discourage going to the emergency room unless symptoms become life-threatening and suggest visiting urgent care centers for testing.
While there may be some downward trends in recent hospitalizations and ER visits, experts emphasize that levels remain relatively high. It is crucial for people to continue practicing preventive measures and not change their behaviors, as there is still a significant risk of infection. We are still in the thick of respiratory virus season, and it is important to remain vigilant.
Looking for vaccines? Visit www.vaccines.gov for flu and COVID-19 vaccines. King County offers free COVID vaccines at its Kent vaccination clinic, and Snoqualmie Valley Hospital provides drive-through vaccinations by appointment. In-home COVID vaccinations are available
