(RxWiki News) The number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at publication time, 8,469,976 coronavirus cases and 223,393 deaths had been reported in the US.
Around four weeks ago, those numbers were 6,786,352 reported coronavirus cases and 199,024 deaths. This is a difference of more than 1.6 million cases in one month.
However, the CDC noted that the agency does not know the exact number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. This is because symptoms might not appear immediately, there is a delay in reporting and testing, and they know many people are not getting tested or seeking medical care. Plus, the CDC noted that there may be differences in how states are confirming COVID-19 numbers.
New information continues to become available as health officials learn more about the virus. As coronavirus cases continue to increase, the movement toward new and better treatments continues.
In fact, the FDA just approved the first treatment for COVID-19. This new approval is for Veklury (remdesivir). The FDA approved it to treat both children and adults who have COVID-19 and require hospitalization.
As we head into the winter months, we are met with the flu season. Seasonal flu activity often begins as early as October and November.
The CDC stressed the importance of the yearly flu shot, saying the vaccine is more important now than ever.
Receiving the flu vaccine this year can help lower the overall impact of respiratory illnesses in the community. That means it can reduce the burden on our health care system as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Getting a flu shot will provide you with a high level of protection against the influenza virus. That's especially important for people who are at high risk for developing complications that might land them in the hospital or result in other serious illnesses.
You can take the following steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and the flu:
- Wear a mask in public.
- Practice social distancing.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Follow other guidance from health officials.
Speak with your health care provider if you have any questions.
