Last week, emergency rooms across North Carolina saw fewer patients with respiratory virus symptoms, marking the first drop since the start of flu season.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 13% of ER visits were for respiratory symptoms, down from 15.6% the previous week. These symptoms include illnesses like COVID-19, RSV, and the flu.
Dr. Ryan Lamb, the medical director at UNC Rex Emergency Room, said it’s too early to know if this decrease signals a lasting trend.
He explained that emergency room staff remain cautious about expecting improvements but remain hopeful.
Lamb also noted that since the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory illnesses have become a year-round challenge, leaving emergency departments with little time to relax. In Wake County, hospitals stay busy almost every month, regardless of the season.
Earlier in January, UNC Health introduced stricter visitor rules to limit the spread of respiratory illnesses and to ease overcrowding in emergency rooms.
Duke University Health System also implemented similar measures. Data from Duke showed an increase in respiratory virus cases across its three hospitals during this period.
At UNC Rex, Dr. Lamb emphasized that these visitor restrictions were necessary not only to control the spread of viruses but also to manage the heavy patient load in emergency departments.
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