COVID-19: Individual cases are no longer being counted. Instead, to estimate the severity of infections across California and within individual counties, the state now monitors the percentage of test results reported that are positive, COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths, and wastewater COVID-19 detection (state dashboard).
Influenza: El Dorado County does not have its own influenza tracking system. Statewide influenza tracking is available and weekly reports are published during flu season. (Click on “Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Weekly Report" under the Surveillance heading to access the current week’s report.)
Other respiratory illnesses: Like influenza, this information is not available specific to El Dorado County, but the weekly report that includes influenza also provides information about other respiratory illnesses and influenza-like illness that has not been identified more specifically.
Considerations for all respiratory illnesses:
- The highest risk for respiratory infections tends to be during fall and winter months.
- Influenza usually occurs during late fall and winter.
- Although it’s not clear yet, COVID-19 may also be prove to be mainly a fall and winter illness, affecting us when we spend more time indoors close to other people, perhaps in large gatherings, such as during the holidays.
- Most people who get COVID-19, influenza, or other respiratory illnesses experience nonlife-threatening symptoms, but…
- Some people (such as the elderly or people who have weak immune systems) may be vulnerable to severe illness and even die from respiratory infections.
- Some people, even if they are not at high risk can be affected by extended illness (such as Long COVID).
- It is always beneficial to take precautions to reduce risks to those vulnerable people or to yourself if you are vulnerable or if you might be one of the unlucky people who could develop long-term effects.
- When weather permits, choose outdoor rather than indoor meeting places.
- Make indoor spaces safer for everyone by improving ventilation and filtration. See these tips.
- Build and maintain your immunity against all vaccine-preventable illnesses by getting your recommended vaccinations and boosters.
- Stay home (from school, work, errands, social events, etc.) when sick. Keep your kids at home if they are sick.
- Consider wearing good-quality, tightly fitting masks, such as KN94s or N95s when in close proximity to other people if infection transmission is possible. Even well fitted procedure masks can be helpful. (See CDC mask guidance or CDPH mask guidance.)
If you’re mostly worried about protecting yourself or others for a specific time period, such as during a vacation or when planning a visit to a vulnerable person, consider these suggestions:
- During the week prior to the time of concern, try to stay away from other people. Avoiding contact is not easy, but doing so makes it nearly impossible to catch or transmit illnesses.
- Consider testing yourself (such as with a COVID-19 home test-kit) or getting tested (at a medical facility) if you think you could have an illness that testing could identify – if a positive test result would prompt you to alter your plans to avoid putting other people at risk.