What to know
By Mariana Singletary, Senior Epidemiologist Pima County Health Department and Saint Philip’s Health Cabinet member
On Friday, March 1, the CDC released an updated Respiratory Virus guidance in response to the decreasing risk that COVID-19 poses to the population. The new guidance applies to community cases with common viral respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza (Flu), and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
Preventing Respiratory Viruses | Respiratory Illnesses | CDC
Prevention Strategies
As part of the guidance, the CDC provides active recommendations on core prevention strategies:
Stay up to date with vaccinations to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID and RSV, if eligible.
Practicing good hygiene by covering your face when coughing and sneezing; washing or sanitizing hands often; and, cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
Taking steps to make your air cleaner, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.
What to do if you get sick
The biggest recommendation for people who get sick with any respiratory virus is simple: stay home if you have symptoms, including fever, until the symptoms have improved overall for 24 hours. If fever was present, then stay home until you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the aid of a fever reducing medication).
The CDC encourages everyone who has been sick to enhance precautions for the 5 days following their illness. This will help curb the spread of any disease and protect the most vulnerable at risk for severe illness—such as people over 65 years old and those with weakened immune systems.
Enhanced precautions include taking steps for cleaner air, wearing a well-fitted mask, keeping your distance from others, avoiding congregating settings, and getting tested to facilitate contact tracing.
Vaccinations
The new RSV vaccine is recommended for people aged 60 or older, and the new recommendation for people 65 years and older is to have a second COVID vaccine before the beginning of the new respiratory season 2024-2025. That group is also advised to follow the recommendation for a yearly flu vaccine at the beginning of each respiratory season.
Recommended Vaccinations for Adults Aged 19 Years and Older in Easy-to-read Format | CDC
The new respiratory season (2024-2025) begins in week 40 of 2024. This is usually the last week of September or the first week in October.
Visit the Pima County Health Department to stay informed on respiratory season viral activity.