Erie County's COVID-19 hospitalizations reach lowest level since August 2021

Fewer Erie County residents were hospitalized last week with COVID-19 than at any time in the past 18 months, an indication that the region is experiencing a welcome mid-winter pandemic lull.

A 14-day moving average of daily COVID-19 hospitalizations declined to 15 patients on Wednesday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It's the county's fewest since Aug. 17, 2021, shortly before the outbreak of COVID-19's delta variant.

"We have seen a decline in our number of COVID cases for about three weeks," said Dr. Christopher Clark, Saint Vincent Hospital president. "It's as low as it has been in a long time."

The county's number of new COVID-19 cases also dropped from 1,263 in December to 647 in January, the lowest monthly total since March, according to the Erie County Department of Health. The amount of coronavirus found in samples taken from the Erie Wastewater Treatment Plant also has declined significantly since early January.

Though respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and flu usually peak in the winter, these are all encouraging signs that the pandemic may be easing, at least temporarily.

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"We're not done with winter yet ... so we still could see more cases and hospitalizations, if another, more severe variant shows up," said Dr. Howard Nadworny, a Saint Vincent Hospital infectious diseases specialist and County Health Department adviser. "But if the core virus stays the same, I think we won't see much increase in hospitalizations or deaths."

COVID-19 deaths have remained relatively steady in the county, with 10 reported in both December and January. Most of those deaths were people older than 80, according to County Health Department data.

Older people are more prone to serious illness and death from COVID-19 because their immune systems are less likely to produce a high level of protection against COVID-19 from vaccinations and previous infections, local health officials have said.

"That's why it is still important for that population to take precautions," Clark said. "They especially need to wear masks when out in public and be up to date on their vaccinations."

Record-breaking flu, RSV seasons continue in Erie County

Flu cases also declined in the county last week, though two more people were hospitalized due to flu complications and one more death was reported. Three county residents have died from flu complications so far this season.

The 17 cases reported last week increased the county's record-breaking seasonal total to 4,581, while 150 county residents have been hospitalized due to flu for a hospitalization rate of 3.2% — lower than most recent flu seasons.

Only 22 of the season's cases have been type B, a strain that usually peaks toward the end of a flu season.

More: Erie County's flu cases decline again. Will we see a second wave?

"We haven't seen any type B in the hospital, though I wouldn't be surprised to see some cases toward the end of winter," Clark said.

The county also reported 17 new cases of respiratory syncytial virus and one hospitalization last week. RSV also has set a record in the county this season, with 2,447 cases.

Health officials have attributed the rise in cases to greater spread of the virus and additional testing. Many doctors use a test that looks for RSV, flu and COVID-19 when a patient presents with respiratory illness.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie's COVID-19 hospitalizations drop as flu and RSV seasons continue