IDPH pushes health facilities to adopt respiratory virus mitigations …

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The state’s public health agency is asking more healthcare facilities to increase their mitigation efforts to respiratory viruses.

Illinois Department of Public Health officials are ramping up precautions after noting half of Illinois’ counties are at a medium or high level for COVID-19 hospitalizations. Health officials also report RSV cases are causing a heavy burden for pediatric hospitalizations across the state.

“With the alarming rise in respiratory viruses we are seeing across the state and the country, IDPH is recommending healthcare facilities take precautions to reduce the spread of these viruses and protect their patients, staffs and visitors,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said. “We are most concerned with healthcare facilities in counties with elevated respiratory virus transmission and hospitalization levels and recommend masking in patient care areas, especially in emergency departments and areas caring for…