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Influenza-like illness
Flu activity increased slightly again this week but remains low. Outpatient influenza like illness (ILI, or the percentage of doctor's visits for fever plus cough or sore throat) rose from 1.5% to 1.6% nationally. This is still far below the threshold that marks the start of flu season.
By region, the South and West were highest at 1.8%, the Northeast followed at 1.2% (up from 1.0%), and the Midwest was lowest at 0.8%. All values are low compared to where we will be in a few months.
By age, children ages 0-4 had the highest rate of outpatient ILI at 4.8% (mostly flat, from 4.7% the week prior). Ages 5-24 declined slightly to 2.2%, which is likely the back-to-school surge receding. All adult groups were under 1.5%.
Most indicators are minimal. Emergency department (ED) visits for flu were 0.3%, with the South and West again in the lead.
COVID-19
Activity appears to be at or near peak in some parts of the country. Specifically, the South is already past peak, and the West is probably not far behind. Other regions of the country are still rising, but activity is quite low in the Midwest and Northeast so the concept of ‘peak’ doesn’t mean much.
Nationally, wastewater concentration held about steady in the "low" range; ED visits for Covid-19 were 0.6% of all ED visits, unchanged; and hospitalizations were stable at 1.2 per 100,000.