(WAND) — As the holiday season comes to a close, the return to school and work is just days away. With respiratory illnesses on the rise, it's important to practice precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy in the new year.
There is a flu surge every year, and as the holidays are wrapping up, Dr. Ted Clark, chief clinical officer at Memorial Health, said that the peak flu season is coming up.Â
"We started to see it tracking upward after Thanksgiving. And now after Christmas, we're really starting to see those numbers continue to increase. They've increased to the point where now the IDPH has released recommendations that we implement visitor restrictions to decrease the transmission of flu," Clark said.
Multiple hospital systems have issued visitor restrictions due to the rising rate of influenza, COVID and other respiratory illnesses in Illinois after recommendations by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
"As we're returning to school, as we're returning to work, we certainly want to keep the basic precautions in mind, washing our hands, not rubbing our eyes and face. And if we're sneezing, coughing, having respiratory symptoms, maybe a good idea to avoid work and school, if possible." Clark said.
If you are not feeling well, you should stay home. Children, elderly adults and immunocompromised people are most at risk for getting sick.Â
For the latest Illinois-specific information on respiratory illnesses, including symptoms, trends and prevention, you can check the IDPH website.
Top Stories:
Chick-fil-A planning to build restaurant in Forsyth
Long Creek family rebuilding after EF-2 tornado rips off roof
Illinois woman's accidental iLottery purchase lands her big jackpot win
Warrensburg-Latham wins Williamsville Holiday Tournament over hosts, 44-31
Copyright 2025. WAND TV. All rights reserved.Â
