Spread Joy...Not Germs This Holiday Season

Ottawa County, Michigan sent this bulletin at 12/16/2022 04:39 PM EST

December 16, 2022

Spread Joy...Not Germs This Holiday Season

On November 21, we distributed this newsletter on respiratory virus activity in Ottawa County, which also included tips for a safer Thanksgiving gathering. Today's newsletter provides updates on respiratory virus activity in the county, as well as three things you can do to prevent respiratory illness this holiday season.

Weekly United States Influenza Season Surveillance Report*

*Source: CDC. Monitors outpatient hospital visits for influenza like illness (ILI), where patients present with a fever, plus a cough and/or sore throat. These are not laboratory confirmed influenza tests. The map is a general indication of respiratory health in the United States.

RSV Activity in Michigan and Ottawa County

Although cases of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) are still elevated statewide, regionally and locally in Ottawa County, there are some early signs of improvement.

Symptoms of RSV

Influenza Activity in Ottawa County

Influenza test positivity (the percent of positive tests conducted by providers and labs) in Ottawa County remains elevated with test positivity increasing from 23.3% to 33.3% during the week ending December 10. Flu activity around the country remains high, with test positivity hovering at 25.4%. Flu season in the United States typically peaks between December and February.

Symptoms of the flu

COVID-19 Activity in Ottawa County

COVID-19 is still a threat, and vulnerable people, especially young children, adults over the age of 65, those with chronic conditions and anyone who isn't vaccinated, are still dying. Transmission signals in Ottawa County are stable, but may be showing some possible increases. Test positivity increased to 13% from 11.8% two weeks ago, and weekly case counts increased from 186 cases two weeks ago to 248 cases last week. Because of at-home tests, which are not reported in public health surveillance data, the data shown here may be an underestimate of the true spread of COVID-19; however, the up and down trends likely do reflect when transmission is increasing and decreasing in the community.

Symptoms of COVID-19

The viruses highlighted here only represent some of the viruses that are circulating right now.

One of the best ways you can protect vulnerable people from illness is to stay home if you are sick, even if your flu and COVID-19 tests are negative. If you have symptoms of any kind, don't attend holiday gatherings, go out shopping or to events, dine at restaurants, or visit the very young or the very old. What might be a mild illness for you could be much more severe for someone else.

Another important way to protect yourself, and the people at higher risk in your life, is to consider getting your COVID-19 vaccination or updated booster, and your flu shot. It's not too late!

Finally, consider masking when in public and when you absolutely can’t stay home when sick. Learn how to mask when it matters most.

Learn more about testing, treatment and other prevention tips here and here.

Living a Healthy Life After COVID-19

Holland Hospital has produced an informative new video series that offers expert medical advice and resources to help you prevent illness and overcome post-COVID conditions. The hospital's experts discuss symptoms of long COVID, what treatments are helping, and how you can live a healthy life after COVID-19. Watch now!

Updated Online:
Communicable Diseases in Ottawa County

November 2022 Report

Ottawa County COVID-19 Data Hub

Ottawa County publishes recent COVID-19 data relating to community transmission, case counts and descriptive statistics. The data hub is updated every weekday from Monday - Friday by 4:00 pm. View Data Hub

Weekly COVID-19 Surveillance Reports can be found on our COVID-19 page.

The Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) sent this update to those who signed up for vaccine notifications or COVID-19 updates. You may also sign up to receive information about other news topics from Ottawa County Parks, Sheriff’s Office and more. See the end of this email to make any changes to your subscription preferences.