With flu cases and hospitalizations surging across the nation and in the Commonwealth, several Central Virginia hospitals and health systems are reinforcing masking guidance and infection prevention measures across care settings to help protect patients, visitors and staff from the spread of influenza and respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Flu season spans the months of October-March, with cases often peaking in February. This year, cases have surged in late December and into January. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there have been at least 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths from flu so far this season. And the Virginia Department of Health indicates a “high” level of respiratory illness in the Commonwealth, with 23.4% of recent hospital emergency department visits attributable to respiratory illness.
At this time, Central Virginia hospitals and health systems whose mission is to protect the communities they serve are sharing guidance with the public related to masking protocols in clinical settings and safety precautions people can take to help prevent spreading the flu. These include Centra, VCU Health, UVA Health HCA VA, Children’s Hospital of Richmond and Bon Secours facilities and offices…