Health officials in Arizona are urging people to mask up, as reported cases of flu and RSV are still trending higher at this time of year than in 2021.
COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations, as a result, also remain problematic.
Epidemiologist Dr. Nick Stabb with the Maricopa Co. health department reminds people who are opposed to vaccinations for COVID and the flu, “I point them to the statistics that show that individuals who are vaccinated have a decreased risk of severe disease.”
As people are likely to want to gather this holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control recommends masking up while indoors, increasing natural airflow from the outdoors if possible and simply staying home if you feel sick.
The so-called “tripledemic” has been putting a strain on a system that was already dealing with staffing issues and burnout.
To learn about how Arizona’s hospitals are doing right now, The Show spoke with Ann-Marie Alameddin, president and CEO of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.
