Spiking respiratory cases lead to long wait times
(ABC 6 News) – The vast majority of states report “high” or “very high” levels of the flu, COVID and RSV, with growing COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to the CDC.
Since the holidays, the CDC has tracked these high levels of respiratory illnesses, now seen in at least 35 states.
These spikes can strain emergency rooms as COVID hospitalizations still slightly grow week by week.
Because of those spiking cases, Minnesota emergency departments are seeing longer than usual wait times as cases continue to spread.
Hennepin Healthcare in the Twin Cities warns patients it’s experiencing high demand and longer wait times in clinics and emergency departments.
Children’s Minnesota experiences a similar advisory.
Experts from the healthcare systems warn it could get worse before it gets better.