Welcome to sick season.

According to the CDC, New York City — along with New Jersey and at least 16 other states — is now experiencing “high” to “very high” levels of respiratory-illness activity as measured by the number of weekly visits to health-care providers and emergency rooms by people having symptoms of fever, cough, and sore throat.

The culprits are the usual suspects: this year’s strains of influenza, COVID, and RSV. And though flulike-illness levels have been above baseline nationally for several consecutive weeks, the CDC warns that we still haven’t hit the peak.

As always, seniors remain the most at-risk demographic for severe outcomes from respiratory illnesses, which is why the low vaccination rates for that group remain troubling.

Beyond vaccination, for everyone, the best way to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like the flu and RSV is regular handwashing; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; and staying home if you get sick. High-filtration face masks still work great, too, and not just for avoiding COVID.

  • Melkath@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    23
    ·
    11 months ago

    There SHOULD be universal Healthcare, but there isn’t.

    The answer is finding a private practice that will see you for cash, not theft, which is a crime.

    You are not entitled to free healthcare.

    • Chetzemoka@startrek.website
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      11 months ago

      I’m a nurse in a hospital. We absolutely do NOT consider uninsured people seeking healthcare to be theft.

      Would we prefer that people have Medicaid and seek primary care services elsewhere? Of course. So one of the things we do when people come in is get them signed up. Should that be our responsibility? Of course not. But here we are.

      • Melkath@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        11 months ago

        To be clear, I am saying providing a false name or intending to fully skip out on the bill is theft.

        I am arguing with people here who say the ER is the ONLY place you can go if you don’t have insurance. That is a lie. There are tons of places you can go, the ER is NOT your only option if you don’t have insurance.

        I am arguing with people here who say if your uninsured and go to the ER you should provide a false name or fully ignore the bill you run up. That is theft. You take on your debt, you make at least good faith payments, or you file for bankruptcy, just like the rest of us.

      • Melkath@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        0
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        No, what isn’t getting through your thick skull?

        You take on the medical debt. Like everyone else does.