COVID, flu surge in U.S. amid holidays, increasing health risks

The United States is witnessing a surge in flu and COVID-19 cases during the holidays, leading to heightened concerns among health experts. The U.S. CDC reports an increase in respiratory illnesses across the country, attributed to holiday gatherings, a high number of unvaccinated individuals, and a new, potentially more transmissible variant of the coronavirus. Seasonal flu activity is rising, with over 5.3 million illnesses, 54,000 hospitalizations, and 3,200 deaths reported so far. The weekly flu hospital admissions exceed 9,800. A new COVID-19 subvariant, JN.1, is spreading rapidly, becoming the dominant variant in the U.S. and responsible for over 44 percent of new infections. Health experts express concerns about the simultaneous spread of respiratory illnesses, urging the public to take preventive measures such as vaccination and adherence to health guidelines to mitigate the risk of widespread impact on public health and healthcare systems.

Source – CGTN