ER visits appear to level off; Christmas likely to bring more COVID, flu

The flood of visits to emergency rooms and hospitals appears to be leveling off but flu and COVID-19 transmission could rise over Christmas, Ventura County health officials said Friday.

Across the county’s eight hospitals, 1,023 patients had been admitted for treatment, compared to 1,069 a week earlier. The hospitals are still busy, especially emergency rooms, but the numbers are stabilizing, said Steve Carroll, administrator for the Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency.

“We’re not seeing the trajectory we were seeing before,” he said.

In many parts of California, including Los Angeles County, some COVID-19 metrics have flattened or improved, spurring speculation the surge may be easing. But Christmas gatherings will likely provide more opportunities for infections to spread, said Ventura County Health Officer Robert Levin.

“I’m not confident it’s plateauing at this point,” he said, focusing his worries on COVID and flu. “I’m concerned it will continue to rise through the rest of December and into January.”

COVID-19 hospitalizations ticked up to 77 admissions as of Friday in Ventura County, compared to 71 a week earlier. The infection rate rose a fraction, and the percentage of people coming up positive in tests fell less than 1 percentage point. Home tests are not included in the metrics, meaning transmission levels are likely higher.

Levin said the flu continues to rise. The dominant strain is H3N2, a form of influenza A that can be particularly severe.

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People should get vaccinated for flu and COVID-19, Levin said. If they’ve received their initial COVID vaccinations, they should get the bivalent booster that targets omicron subvariants. About 1 of 5 eligible county residents have received the new booster, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Nearly three years into the pandemic, advice about lowering risks has lost much of its impact, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease specialist and professor at UC San Francisco. The messages sound like adults talking in Charlie Brown TV shows.

“You just hear ‘Wah, wah, wah,” he said.

Chin-Hong adjusts by zeroing in on what he sees as the most important measures. He tells people to get vaccinated and boosted. He tells them to ask their doctor before they test positive if they qualify for Paxlovid and come up with a plan to get the free anti-viral medication if they are infected.

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Levin pushed people to wear N95 or KN95 masks indoors in public places. He urged people to open windows and screen doors at Christmas gatherings to improve circulation. Stay home if you don’t feel well and get tested.

People gathering with elderly relatives or others who are more vulnerable to severe illness should probably talk about getting tested before the event.

Wash your hands thoroughly and often. Cough into your elbow, he said.

Some ignore the advice and tune out news about COVID-19 transmission risks.

“I don’t really care. It doesn’t affect me too much,” said the man getting into his vehicle at the Esplanade Shopping Center in Oxnard. Then he cut off the conversation.

Lauraine Effress of Oxnard has received her senior flu shot, her COVID vaccinations and the bivalent booster. She wears a mask around her neck in public places, pulling it over her nose and mouth when other people are around.

She cited transmission trends in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, as well as Levin’s statements regarding COVID risks and masking. She explained that at age 79 she’s more at risk for severe illness and needs to know what’s happening.

“I follow assiduously,” Effress said.

Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255.

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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Holidays likely to bring more COVID, flu to Ventura County