WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) – Officials at Ascension Via Christi say health care workers are busy caring for people with respiratory illnesses such as the flu, respiratory syncytial virus, and the novel coronavirus, and will continue to do so after the holidays. said they expected the number of infections to rise sharply.

In the emergency room at Ascension Via Christi St. Teresa in northwest Wichita, the sounds of coughing can be heard as doctors rush from room to room.

“I think we’ve met a lot more people in the last three days than we did last week,” Dr. Greg Zandrow said.

Respiratory viruses spread when people come into close contact with each other, which is why people are more likely to get sick during the holidays. The hospital said it expects cases of influenza, RSV and the new coronavirus to increase after the holidays, when many people gather.

“Holidays are always a tricky time. Everyone comes together and with that comes a lot of sharing: presents, physical presence, and the presence of pathogens,” Dr. Zandrow explains.

He says the best thing you can do to keep yourself and your family safe this season is to take action before you get sick.

“There’s an expression that says an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Prevention is the key. The goal is always to try to stay as healthy as possible,” he said.

This includes washing your hands, practicing social distancing, and checking for up-to-date information about vaccines. And while it may not be what you want, it’s probably best to stay home if you’re feeling sick.

“It’s always hard to get yourself out of the mess. Generally speaking, if you’re sick and someone gets you sick, you can spread that illness to other people,” he said. says.

Balance is also important when celebrating. In addition to delicious Christmas sweets, be sure to get plenty of rest, drink water, eat fruits, vegetables and protein.