“If you are sick, you should stay home so that you don’t make others sick,” said Dr. Becky Thomas, medical director for Public Health - Dayton and Montgomery County. “That is the present no one wants this time of year.”
Outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms increased 10.82%, according to ODH’s report, making up 3.38% of all outpatient visits.
Emergency department visits for fever and flu-like symptoms increased 13.87%, and emergency department visits for constitutional symptoms, which non-specific symptoms like fatigue and body aches, increased 5.19%.
Montgomery County has had 15 flu-related hospitalizations this season so far, according to ODH. The rest of the Dayton-area counties have fewer than 10 hospitalizations. There have been nine in Butler County and two in Clark County.
“Anytime that people are gathering in a small space, infections are more likely to spread,” Thomas said.
With holiday gatherings approaching, health experts are reminding people to be aware of the risks of spreading illnesses and how to mitigate it.
“It’s very important to make sure to do all of the good respiratory hygiene things that we know work, including covering your coughs and sneezes, washing your hands frequently, making sure you’re up to date on your seasonal vaccinations,” Thomas said.
COVID-19 hospitalizations have gone up with 206 reported in Ohio in the most recent week of data, up from the three-week average of 168. ICU stays and deaths are generally the same as the three week average with six ICU stays and 16 deaths in the most recent week, according to ODH.
“COVID testing is still important, (and) something you should be considering, particularly if you’re going to go visit someone who is immunocompromised,” said Dan Suffoletto, Public Health public information manager.
Public Health - Dayton and Montgomery County has free COVID-19 tests available, which are also available in area pharmacies. Dual tests for flu and COVID-19 are also beginning to available at pharmacies.
People can also start making plans about what to do if someone in the household gets sick, particularly families with young children, Suffoletto said, such as in regard to who might have to take off work to care for a sick child in the home.
“And then it’s never too late, if you don’t have a primary care physician, to begin the process of setting that up,” Suffoletto said.
Getting connected with a primary care physician or finding the right doctor can sometimes be a lengthy process, he said, which is why people shouldn’t wait.
“Don’t wait until you’re sick to try to start developing that relationship with the doctor if you don’t have one,” Suffoletto said. “So now is the perfect time to reach out around the holidays to start that process.”
It’s also not too late to get vaccinated. To find a vaccination location, visit vaccines.gov.
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