Norton Healthcare notices an increase in respiratory illnesses

WAYS TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE. AS YOU PREPARE TO BE AROUND YOUR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. A WARNING FROM ONE LOCAL DOCTOR. JUST SO FAR, WE’VE SEEN THAT COVID HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THE IN THE TERMS OF POSITIVE CASES. WE’VE HAD FLU MORE THAN QUADRUPLE AND THAT’S JUST IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS ALONE. DOCTOR ROBERT LINK IS AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AT NORTON HEALTHCARE, AND HE SAYS THOSE EARLY STATISTICS ARE BASED ON WHAT NORTON SAW LAST YEAR. FINAL NUMBERS WILL BE CONFIRMED IN THE COMING WEEKS. I CAN SAY ANECDOTALLY, ABOUT 50% OF THE PATIENTS I SEE IN THE EMERGENCY CARE CENTER HAVE BEEN HAVING RESPIRATORY LIKE SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS BODY ACHES, RUNNY NOSE, COUGH, CONGESTION, FEVERS. AND JUST THIS WEEK, THE CDC SAYS POSITIVE FLU TESTS ARE UP 9%. BUT DOCTOR LINK SAYS WHILE THERE’S A RISE IN THESE CASES FOR RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, INCLUDING COVID 19, IT’S NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC. SO WHEN SHOULD YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR IF YOU’RE NOT FEELING WELL? THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL METHOD, ACCORDING TO DOCTOR LINK, BUT UNDERSTANDING YOUR SYMPTOMS FROM SEVERE PAIN AND DIFFICULTY BREATHING TO NAUSEA AND RUNNY NOSE CAN GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA. WE KNOW COVID 19 AND INFLUENZA BOTH CAN HAVE SYMPTOMS LIKE NAUSEA, VOMITING, AND DIARRHEA. SO I REALLY IMPLORE PEOPLE THAT IF THEY’RE HAVING ANY OF THOSE TYPES OF SYMPTOMS AS WELL. PROBABLY WORTH GETTING CHECKED OUT. AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO TAKE A RAIN CHECK ON THOSE HOLIDAY PLANS WITH GROUPS OF FRIENDS OR YOUR FAMILY. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT FOR INDIVIDUALS JUST TO HAVE A SELF AWARENESS THAT IF THEY FEEL RUN DOWN, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY’RE DEVELOPING SOME VIRAL ILLNESS. TO REALLY HAVE THE FORESIGHT TO SAY, HEY, LOOK, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO PASS THIS ALONG T

Norton Healthcare sees increase in respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and RSV

Norton Healthcare says they’ve noticed an uptick in illnesses in the area recently, including COVID-19 and RSV.It comes as families start to gather for the holiday season. Norton Healthcare says in the past two weeks, COVID-19 diagnoses have nearly doubled, while flu diagnoses have more than quadrupled. Dr. Robert Link, an ER Physician Attending, says that’s on par with last year’s increase around this time.”I can say anecdotally about 50% of the patients that I’ve seen in the emergency care center have been having respiratory-like symptoms such as body aches, runny nose, cough, congestion, fever,” Link said.To combat the rise, Link says washing your hands consistently is key. Also, if you feel sick, make sure to get checked out.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Norton Healthcare says they’ve noticed an uptick in illnesses in the area recently, including COVID-19 and RSV.

It comes as families start to gather for the holiday season.

Norton Healthcare says in the past two weeks, COVID-19 diagnoses have nearly doubled, while flu diagnoses have more than quadrupled.

Dr. Robert Link, an ER Physician Attending, says that’s on par with last year’s increase around this time.

“I can say anecdotally about 50% of the patients that I’ve seen in the emergency care center have been having respiratory-like symptoms such as body aches, runny nose, cough, congestion, fever,” Link said.

To combat the rise, Link says washing your hands consistently is key. Also, if you feel sick, make sure to get checked out.

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