PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems is expecting a rise in respiratory illness in the next few weeks. 

“We see this happen in the winter because we are all stuffed indoors tightly together, you know, we’re not outdoors, we’re not enjoying our lunch on the patio; we are all in the cafeteria or we are all in confined workspaces,” said Dr. James Lederer, chief medical and chief quality officer at Berkshire Health Systems.

The health system has even brought back its masking protocols. 

As of right now, they are in the green, meaning masks are welcome but not required because the respiratory virus alert level is low, for now.

“Starting to see the RSV climb a little bit, influenza it’s out there and I expect we see it climb more as we get into January, but right now it’s still in the low and COVID is in the low,” said Lederer.

Lederer says children and older adults should take more precautions as they are at risk for getting sicker.

“Our RSV babies, their airways are so little that a little bit of inflammation takes an easy-going breathing patient to one who’s distressed and wheezing and having difficulties. Same thing holds with our older patients who have underlying respiratory illness,” Lederer said.

Some of the best ways Lederer says to keep yourself safe from illness is to get vaccinated and use masks along with other courses of action.

“It’s really minimizing exposure, keeping good hand hygiene and hand sanitization, wearing a mask if that is something that you feel comfortable doing in whatever setting you’re in and getting vaccinated,” said Lederer.

Lederer also says if you feel sick, to try and stay home until you feel better to prevent the spread of germs.