Between holiday gatherings and children returning to classrooms, local officials are warning of high rates of transmission of respiratory illnesses such as colds, COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in Pima County.

But while fewer people are using coronavirus tests or reporting their results, many cases are not being counted in official tallies because home tests for influenza and RSV are not available. , Dr. Teresa Cullen said it's difficult to say exactly how serious the situation on the ground is. , Pima County Public Health Director.

In the week ending Dec. 30, 646 people were reported to have tested positive for the coronavirus in Pima County, a decrease of 8.76% from the previous week, according to the CDC's latest report. This equates to an infection rate of 60 per 100,000 Pima County residents.

But area hospitals are reporting more people showing up to emergency rooms and being hospitalized with respiratory illnesses. According to a CDC report, 5.6% of people who visited local emergency rooms in the final week of 2023 were suffering from the novel coronavirus or a novel coronavirus-like illness, an increase of 16.9% from the previous week, and Pima Eighty-four people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county. The number of deaths due to some type of respiratory illness was an 18.3 percent increase from the previous week.

Not everyone in the emergency room is suffering from respiratory illness, but hospitals are crowded, Cullen said.

“Many hospitals are reporting a significant number of patients waiting to be admitted in the emergency room,” Cullen said, adding that some of this is related to staffing issues.

Given the number of people visiting emergency rooms, Cullen suggested people first consult their primary care physician or consider visiting an emergency clinic before going to the ER.

Cullen said hospitalization numbers tend to be an indicator of slowing the spread of respiratory illnesses because people tend to get seriously ill before seeking help in the emergency room.

“What's important for people to know is that respiratory illness is above where it should be right now,” Cullen said. “Overall, we are not in a good place.”

Cullen predicted that community transmission levels will continue to rise as students return to school after winter break.

Banner Health issued a statewide alert Wednesday warning of a “significant spike in respiratory illnesses.”

“Banner University Medical Center Tucson and South Campus emergency rooms are seeing an increase in respiratory-related illnesses that are common this time of year, including colds and flu, respiratory syncytial virus, and the novel coronavirus,” a Banner spokesperson said. Rebecca Lewis McGill said in an email.

Tucson Medical Center spokesman Dan Gibson said TMC is also seeing an increase in emergency department visits and hospitalizations related to respiratory illnesses, which is common at this time of year. He said that although hospitals are busy, they are not facing major capacity issues.

TMC and UMC officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect their positions, said TMC is “now code purple every day” and that the 649-bed UMC's daily patient count continues to exceed that number. He spoke to the Sentinel about the crowding problem. 600.

Karen said people should consider getting vaccinated to prevent and reduce the severity of coronavirus and influenza, and people over 60 should talk to their doctor about whether to get RSV vaccination. he added. An uninsured person can visit a clinic in the county and get vaccinated against any of the three diseases.

He said people should take basic steps to avoid getting sick and spreading the disease, including washing their hands regularly, covering their mouths when coughing, avoiding crowded places and staying home if they feel sick. He added that appropriate measures could be taken. People who are sick but can't stay home because of work or errands should consider wearing a mask, she added, but she understands it's a sensitive topic.

“I hate bringing up the word 'mask,' but masks are effective at stopping the transmission of respiratory illnesses,” Karen says. “I encourage everyone to wear a mask. It’s not like I’m doing it.”

Coronavirus tests are available at Pima County libraries or by mail from the federal government by visiting covid.gov.