Local health officials are warning that for the third consecutive winter, an influx of illness is circling the holiday season.
“We’re actually seeing the same amount of community sickness that we saw a year ago on the same day, and we’re seeing that same volume — the same amount of patients — coming into our urgent care clinics and our emergency department as we did a year ago,” said Chris Lindley, the chief population officer at Vail Health.
“Why that’s important is a year ago at this time, we were on the top of a large surge of community illness that was driven by omicron.”
However, this year, the surge is not just driven by the omicron variant of COVID-19 but also predominantly by a rise in two other respiratory illnesses: RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and influenza.
Some nationwide public health officials are referring to this as a “tripledemic,” which Becky Larson, Eagle County Public Health’s deputy director and epidemiologist, is simply a “cute term” referring to the fact that all three of these illnesses are “all circulating at high or increasing levels, all at the same time.”
“Whether it’s with individuals or communities, they just feel like they’re in a state of sickness from all the different viruses that are circulating,” Larson said. “There’s a lot of illness in the community right now and I know we’re not the only community that feels that way.”
This rise in illness adds extra stress to the local health care system, which is already feeling the pinch of the last few years.
“Across the country, there’s a health care worker shortage. The country had a huge exodus of nurses over the COVID (pandemic) the first couple of years,” Lindley said. “We’re very fortunate here. We have a very strong, engaged, passionate health care workforce. But they’re working long, hard hours.”
From nurses and doctors to care techs and the hospital’s cleaning team, Lindley said these individuals are working holidays and nights amid the spread of these viruses.
“In 2020, health care workers were heroes. We celebrated them and recognized their work. They’re still doing that same job, but it’s harder now because there are less of them,” he added. “We should celebrate them and recognize them even more if we can because we want them to stay here, we want them to keep working.”
RSV vs. Flu vs. COVID
While an increase in rates of respiratory illnesses is somewhat expected in winter, each year brings unpredictable patterns, Larson said.
The prevalence of influenza, or flu, has been increasing, at an “earlier and faster-moving increase in rate” than usually anticipated, Larson reported.
“We saw an early increase — really the whole nation did — and we’re still seeing that increase,” she added. “We have a lot of travelers coming in, part-time residents, so we would already expect this, but we’re starting at a pretty high rate going into the holiday season.”
Specifically, Lindley said that Vail Health is seeing a “two-fold increase” in flu compared to the same time last year.
COVID has also been seeing an increase over the past month, Larson said.
“The good news is we’re not seeing that same type of surge we saw last year when we had omicron. But we also have a bivalent booster that helps protect a little better against omicron-based variants. We have some different protections and immunities in place so I think that’s partly why we’re not seeing that same surge,” she added.
In recent weeks, RSV has been trending slightly opposite these other two illnesses. Larson reported that in the past three or four weeks, there has been a steady decrease in the virus. However, this rate, she added, is still elevated from previous years.
“RSV has been another virus that we typically see in the winter months. However, we also actually saw some summer illness of RSV, which we don’t expect,” Larson said. “This year it’s been much, much higher than we’ve seen probably in the past 10 years.”
Lindley reported that Vail Health is seeing one to two patients a day in the hospital, which is twice as high as the same time last year.
While there are some differences between each of these respiratory illnesses — such as how infectious it is as well as the timelines for when symptoms present and how long they last — each present with relatively similar symptoms. This can make identifying a sickness, difficult, if not nearly impossible.
“You’re not going to know which one you have unless you get tested,” Lindley said. “And there’s no need to get tested unless you’re really sick because again, we’re busy.”
So what should individuals do if they’re feeling sick?
Larson said that if a person develops respiratory symptoms, ruling out COVID because it’s the most infectious (and has specific precautions on how to prevent the spread to others) should be the first step. Larson recommends taking an at-home test, which federal and local governments are providing for free.
While there are specific guidelines and recommendations around COVID, both Larson and Lindley said that staying home when sick and managing symptoms is key.
“If they’re just sick and they don’t need to see a health care provider, it’s the same response for all of them: stay home, get sleep, drink water, rest, try not to expose anybody else, and get over the illness. With all of them it is, isolate yourself, take care of yourself,” Lindley said.
That said “if your symptoms become alarming, we want you to get in to see us right away,” he added.
Larson added that for “any reason where you’re concerned and need to seek medical care, absolutely, please seek medical care.”
A long winter ahead
While these trends are largely unpredictable year-to-year or even from the start of winter to the end, there are some indications that the current rise in illnesses will continue.
“I’m hopeful RSV will continue this declining trend. As far as flu and COVID, I think it’s too soon to tell what that will look like. I do expect we’ll continue kind of this increase at least through the holidays,” Larson said.
Part of this increase, particularly with COVID, has to do with the influx of residents and visitors this time of year.
“Where our concern is and what we watch is not necessarily just what happens in this valley. Because we’re an international destination, we’re watching what’s happening across the country,” Lindley said.
On a positive note, Lindley added that nationwide hospitalizations for COVID are about half of what they were a year ago.
However, there are new strains and variants that could be cause for concern.
“One of the new strains or variants that we’re all watching, which is XBB, is starting to take hold and is quickly, specifically in New York City, becoming one of the prominent variants. With that variant, specifically, what worries us is in laboratory studies — so not yet in the human population, but when they’ve looked at it in test tubes and stuff — it seems to be pretty evasive against the current vaccines we have as well as treatments,” Lindley said.
Additionally, the current spread of COVID in China has possible implications for the global supply chain.
Lindley — citing recent data from health data company Airfinity — said it is likely to see over one million cases and over 5,000 deaths a day over the next few months. Part of the concern, he added is that the current R-naught for COVID is 16. An R-naught represents how many people, on average, a single infected person can be expected to transmit an illness.
“What we’re watching specifically from China and what we’re preparing for is potential supply chain issues because as these megacities in China get very sick, the factories will be shut down, their economy will shut down,” Lindley said. “Because so many of us in the United States are dependent on shipments and supplies from China, we’re preparing for some shortages of those things and getting ahead of it.”
With that, Lindley recommended that now is a good time for individuals to refill 90-day prescriptions for critical medications.
“We do think there is a potential in the weeks and months to come that some of those medications that we rely on are going to be in short supply because those supplies come out of China,” he said.
Lindley added that this isn’t the first nor the last wave of COVID the community will see.
“No one can predict the frequency or the severity, but what we’re doing as a health care system is we’re planning for the worst,” Lindley said. “We’re prepared for that, and we obviously hope it’s something less.”
Staying healthy
With these current projections and the surge of illness, preventing illness and maintaining one’s health is critical not only this winter but all year long.
Lindley has developed a list of 12 actions individuals can take to maintain their health, something that is critical to both staving off and fighting any illnesses.
“People get so focused on what’s the government doing and what the mask orders are, what the travel orders are, et cetera, but at face value, people need to take care of their health and they need to take personal responsibility for it,” he said. “And there’s some really low-hanging fruit, if you will, that people could grab onto that will have huge impacts on their health.”
These 12 actions include:
Eat a balanced diet, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats
Exercise frequently, including cardiovascular exercise and strength training activities
Get enough sleep, aiming for 7 to 9 hours a night, in an effort to bolster your immune system
Manage stress through meditation, yoga or deep breathing
Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated
Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption
Check in with your health care provider regularly for screenings and checkups
Stay up to date on recommended vaccinations, which for COVID includes the Bivalent Vaccine Boosters
Practice good hygiene including washing your hands and covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing (Larson also recommended disinfecting your phone)
Stay home when you’re sick
Take prescribed medications as directed by your health provider
Seek help if you’re struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety or depression
During the holidays, some of these actions become more challenging amid the gluttony of treats and alcohol, the stress of the season and the sheer number of events and parties.
For this reason, Lindley recommended moderation — and being aware of decisions and behaviors — this season to keep your health front of mind.
“Americans, we like to believe that we can just take a pill and we’ll be OK. But to be healthy, it’s much more than a pill. It’s eating less when we want to eat more. It’s exercising when we don’t want to go outside or we don’t want to go to the gym. It’s not drinking in excess when our other friends are,” he said. “I’m not saying not to enjoy each other and those things, but just practice moderation.”
With the current illness trends and predictions, these actions will be critical in keeping the community healthy this winter.
“It’s going to be a stressful winter for many people,” Lindley said. “My objective is not to cause that, but rather to say, it’s here. It’s already here. We’ve gone through it multiple times. We’re going to get through it again. It’ll be a bumpy winter, and we had a bumpy winter last year. But what we need our community to do is help us by staying healthy. The healthier they are, the healthier we all are.”
Skinstitut Holiday Gift Kits take the stress out of gifting
Toronto, October 31, 2024 – Beauty gifts are at the top of holiday wish lists this year, and Laser Clinics Canada, a leader in advanced beauty treatments and skincare, is taking the pressure out of seasonal shopping. Today, Laser Clincs Canada announces the arrival of its 2024 Holiday Gift Kits, courtesy of Skinstitut, the exclusive skincare line of Laser Clinics Group.
In time for the busy shopping season, the limited-edition Holiday Gifts Kits are available in Laser Clinics locations in the GTA and Ottawa. Clinics are conveniently located in popular shopping centers, including Hillcrest Mall, Square One, CF Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Rideau Centre, Union Station and CF Markville. These limited-edition Kits are available on a first come, first served basis.
“These kits combine our best-selling products, bundled to address the most relevant skin concerns we’re seeing among our clients,” says Christina Ho, Senior Brand & LAM Manager at Laser Clinics Canada. “With several price points available, the kits offer excellent value and suit a variety of gift-giving needs, from those new to cosmeceuticals to those looking to level up their skincare routine. What’s more, these kits are priced with a savings of up to 33 per cent so gift givers can save during the holiday season.
There are two kits to select from, each designed to address key skin concerns and each with a unique theme — Brightening Basics and Hydration Heroes.
Brightening Basics is a mix of everyday essentials for glowing skin for all skin types. The bundle comes in a sleek pink, reusable case and includes three full-sized products: 200ml gentle cleanser, 50ml Moisture Defence (normal skin) and 30ml1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum. The Brightening Basics kit is available at $129, a saving of 33 per cent.
Hydration Heroes is a mix of hydration essentials and active heroes that cater to a wide variety of clients. A perfect stocking stuffer, this bundle includes four deluxe products: Moisture 15 15 ml Defence for normal skin, 10 ml 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum, 10 ml Retinol Serum and 50 ml Expert Squalane Cleansing Oil. The kit retails at $59.
In addition to the 2024 Holiday Gifts Kits, gift givers can easily add a Laser Clinic Canada gift card to the mix. Offering flexibility, recipients can choose from a wide range of treatments offered by Laser Clinics Canada, or they can expand their collection of exclusive Skinstitut products.
Brightening Basics 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut, available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.
Hydration Heroes 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut – available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
The Canadian Paediatric Society says doctors should regularly screen children for reading difficulties and dyslexia, calling low literacy a “serious public health concern” that can increase the risk of other problems including anxiety, low self-esteem and behavioural issues, with lifelong consequences.
New guidance issued Wednesday says family doctors, nurses, pediatricians and other medical professionals who care for school-aged kids are in a unique position to help struggling readers access educational and specialty supports, noting that identifying problems early couldhelp kids sooner — when it’s more effective — as well as reveal other possible learning or developmental issues.
The 10 recommendations include regular screening for kids aged four to seven, especially if they belong to groups at higher risk of low literacy, including newcomers to Canada, racialized Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. The society says this can be done in a two-to-three-minute office-based assessment.
Other tips encourage doctors to look for conditions often seen among poor readers such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; to advocate for early literacy training for pediatric and family medicine residents; to liaise with schools on behalf of families seeking help; and to push provincial and territorial education ministries to integrate evidence-based phonics instruction into curriculums, starting in kindergarten.
Dr. Scott McLeod, one of the authors and chair of the society’s mental health and developmental disabilities committee, said a key goal is to catch kids who may be falling through the cracks and to better connect families to resources, including quicker targeted help from schools.
“Collaboration in this area is so key because we need to move away from the silos of: everything educational must exist within the educational portfolio,” McLeod said in an interview from Calgary, where he is a developmental pediatrician at Alberta Children’s Hospital.
“Reading, yes, it’s education, but it’s also health because we know that literacy impacts health. So I think that a statement like this opens the window to say: Yes, parents can come to their health-care provider to get advice, get recommendations, hopefully start a collaboration with school teachers.”
McLeod noted that pediatricians already look for signs of low literacy in young children by way of a commonly used tool known as the Rourke Baby Record, which offers a checklist of key topics, such as nutrition and developmental benchmarks, to cover in a well-child appointment.
But he said questions about reading could be “a standing item” in checkups and he hoped the society’s statement to medical professionals who care for children “enhances their confidence in being a strong advocate for the child” while spurring partnerships with others involved in a child’s life such as teachers and psychologists.
The guidance said pediatricians also play a key role in detecting and monitoring conditions that often coexist with difficulty reading such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but McLeod noted that getting such specific diagnoses typically involves a referral to a specialist, during which time a child continues to struggle.
He also acknowledged that some schools can be slow to act without a specific diagnosis from a specialist, and even then a child may end up on a wait list for school interventions.
“Evidence-based reading instruction shouldn’t have to wait for some of that access to specialized assessments to occur,” he said.
“My hope is that (by) having an existing statement or document written by the Canadian Paediatric Society … we’re able to skip a few steps or have some of the early interventions present,” he said.
McLeod added that obtaining specific assessments from medical specialists is “definitely beneficial and advantageous” to know where a child is at, “but having that sort of clear, thorough assessment shouldn’t be a barrier to intervention starting.”
McLeod said the society was partly spurred to act by 2022’s “Right to Read Inquiry Report” from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which made 157 recommendations to address inequities related to reading instruction in that province.
He called the new guidelines “a big reminder” to pediatric providers, family doctors, school teachers and psychologists of the importance of literacy.
“Early identification of reading difficulty can truly change the trajectory of a child’s life.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.
