The flu, COVID, and RSV are driving respiratory-illness activity up nationwide.

Welcome to sick season.

According to the CDC, New York City — along with New Jersey and at least 16 other states — is now experiencing “high” to “very high” levels of respiratory-illness activity as measured by the number of weekly visits to health-care providers and emergency rooms by people having symptoms of fever, cough, and sore throat.

The culprits are the usual suspects: this year’s strains of influenza, COVID, and RSV. And though flulike-illness levels have been above baseline nationally for several consecutive weeks, the CDC warns that we still haven’t hit the peak.

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As always, seniors remain the most at-risk demographic for severe outcomes from respiratory illnesses, which is why the low vaccination rates for that group remain troubling.

Beyond vaccination, for everyone, the best way to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like the flu and RSV is regular handwashing; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; and staying home if you get sick. High-filtration face masks still work great, too, and not just for avoiding COVID.

  • RaoulDook@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    9 months ago

    Is that a serious question? I sincerely hope that people don’t think that is a thing to do.

    Going to the ER is always going to be more expensive than going to a regular doctor, with insurance or without.

    An urgent care clinic or general medical center is where you’re supposed to go for non-emergency care. If you can’t afford the doctor bills at those, then the local county health department should offer medical services at reduced cost for low-income people.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      0·
      9 months ago

      Urgent care and medical centers require insurance.

      ERs do not.

      So, again, where do people without insurance go for non-emergency healthcare? What the county health department should do is irrelevant. There should be universal healthcare in this country. There isn’t that and health departments aren’t offering any medical services at reduced cost.

      The only option uninsured people have in much of the U.S. is the ER.

      • Melkath@kbin.social
        0·
        9 months ago

        There SHOULD be universal Healthcare, but there isn’t.

        The answer is finding a private practice that will see you for cash, not theft, which is a crime.

        You are not entitled to free healthcare.

        • Chetzemoka@startrek.website
          0·
          9 months ago

          I’m a nurse in a hospital. We absolutely do NOT consider uninsured people seeking healthcare to be theft.

          Would we prefer that people have Medicaid and seek primary care services elsewhere? Of course. So one of the things we do when people come in is get them signed up. Should that be our responsibility? Of course not. But here we are.

          • Melkath@kbin.social
            0·
            9 months ago

            To be clear, I am saying providing a false name or intending to fully skip out on the bill is theft.

            I am arguing with people here who say the ER is the ONLY place you can go if you don’t have insurance. That is a lie. There are tons of places you can go, the ER is NOT your only option if you don’t have insurance.

            I am arguing with people here who say if your uninsured and go to the ER you should provide a false name or fully ignore the bill you run up. That is theft. You take on your debt, you make at least good faith payments, or you file for bankruptcy, just like the rest of us.

          • Melkath@kbin.social
            0·
            9 months ago

            No, what isn’t getting through your thick skull?

            You take on the medical debt. Like everyone else does.

              • Melkath@kbin.social
                0·
                9 months ago

                No.

                Minimum/Good faith payments.

                Carry the debt. Like everyone else.

                Don’t be a criminal.

                What is so hard to understand about this?

                You cant afford a car. Do you go and steal a Lexus? No, you get a used PT Cruiser and you make the payments. Capitalism isn’t that hard to understand, if you live in America, you need to understand it until we get some Socialism installed, which I am for, but breaking the existing system and fucking over the rest of us is not the way.

                Taking on 300 dollars in debt for a trip to a private practice is FAR better than taking on 3000 dollars in debt by going to an ER. And just skipping out on the bill you run out isn’t an option. That is theft.