NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - Cooley Dickinson Hospital has seen a rise in cases of the flu, RSV and COVID-19 over the last several weeks, according to chief medical officer Dr. Sari Miettinen
What You Need To Know
- Mass General Brigham Hospital says they have seen an increase in the number of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 cases during the winter season
- On Tuesday, the Mass General Brigham health care system entered the high phase of the Respiratory Virus Mitigation Policy where all staff members will now be required to wear a mask when working with patients
- Anyone who is dealing with body ache or fever like symptoms should stay home and contact their primary care physician if they need medical attention
- People can get tested for COVID, flu and RSV at their local pharmacy or urgent care. People can sign up for their flu and vaccine shots there as well
On Tuesday, the Mass General Brigham health care system, which includes Cooley Dickinson, entered the "high" phase of its Respiratory Virus Mitigation Policy, where all staff members will now be required to wear a mask when working with patients.
"Particularly over the last month, I think we first really started to see a spike in COVID and that's remained pretty steady," Miettinen said. "And then over the last week or so, we've seen a really big increase in influenza or the flu."
Miettinen said there could be an increase in RSV or COVID-19 cases with people returning to work and school this month. She said anyone who is dealing with body ache or fever like symptoms should stay home and contact their primary care physician if they need medical attention.
"If you do need to go out, or [if] you need to return to school or return to work or you're having symptoms, it's best to place a mask on so you're not spreading infections to others," Miettinen said. "Because again, all of these respiratory infections, whether they're flu, COVID or RSV, are spread through the coughing and the sneezing."
Miettinen said people can get tested for COVID, flu and RSV at their local pharmacy or urgent care. She said people can still sign up for their flu and vaccine shots there as well.