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COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses increase in California
KCRA • • health
Key Points:
- Respiratory illnesses, including strep throat, common colds, and COVID-19 cases, are rising in California as fall approaches, with strep throat infections increasing among schoolchildren.
- COVID-19 cases in California have surged to the highest levels since last summer, marking a late-summer surge that has been typical over the past two years.
- Although COVID-19 symptoms are generally less severe now compared to earlier in the pandemic, high exposure can still lead to more severe illness, and hospitalization risks from COVID-19 have decreased relative to influenza.
- Antiviral treatments like Paxlovid are recommended for high-risk individuals and are most effective when started early, with urgent care centers suggested for timely prescriptions.
- Vaccinations for COVID-19, flu, and RSV are available and recommended for various age groups, including infants, older adults, and pregnant women, to help reduce illness severity and duration.
