Amid a national increase in COVID-19 cases, Illinois and Monroe County have also seen a spike in other respiratory illnesses, though local trends seem to be typical for the holiday season.

One of the current primary means for measuring COVID-19 activity has become wastewater monitoring.

A map from the Centers for Disease Control indicates that much of the U.S. has measured a high rate of COVID wastewater activity.

Though several states have no wastewater sites sharing activity reports, Illinois – which has two – is among roughly two dozen states measuring a very high viral activity level.

Additional data from the CDC provides perspective on trends for COVID wastewater activity which indicates the current spike in COVID activity is roughly half of the spike seen at the start of 2022, slightly higher than other increases seen in the summer and winter of 2022.

At the state level, the Illinois Department of Public Health recently launched a new Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard providing weekly updates for trends in illnesses including COVID, influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

The dashboard notes Illinois is currently rated by the CDC as a 10 in regard to respiratory illness activity – a nationwide map from the CDC indicates 13 activity levels – meaning Illinois is among about a dozen states with high levels of activity with even more states measuring even higher activity levels.

The dashboard also reports that hospital admissions for COVID made up 5.1 percent of hospital admissions on Dec. 30. The flu made up 3.04 percent and RSV made up 1.24 percent.

Regarding trends, COVID and the flu saw very slight increases in admissions compared to Dec. 23 – 4.50 percent and 2.39 percent, respectively – while RSV saw an even slighter downward trend in cases compared to the previous week.

Broad Acute Respiratory Illness trumped all three of these viruses, however, making up 22.2 percent of hospital admissions in the state.

Locally, Monroe County Health Department Administrator John Wagner echoed much of his sentiments from just after Christmas, saying the latest uptick in cases has been expected given the season.

“We’re seeing an increase, an expected increase,” Wagner said. “With the holidays and people spending time inside, respiratory viruses increase. We know that from year to year that’s what’s going on.”

Wagner noted recent activity that he’s seen, with St. Louis implementing a mask mandate and quickly rescinding it and hospitals he’s heard from lately reporting that they’re within their usual range for winter without much stress.

He specifically spoke about RSV, suggesting that a recent decrease in local cases could be attributed to children staying home these past few weeks. In turn, an increase in cases could be observed as kids return to school.

Wagner also spoke about the wastewater data he’s seen.

“The wastewater sampling that’s being done – and it’s sporadic but it’s nationwide – is indicating that there is an increase in (COVID) cases,” Wagner said. “And that’s a pretty good indicator because, with the home tests and everything, it’s not like before where everybody went to the doctor to get a test.”

He added that wastewater sampling has been particularly effective at indicating what variant of COVID is growing in activity, prompting comments on the latest variant of concern JN.1

“There is a little question on the severity of it, but it seems to be right on line with the other ones,” Wagner said. “People with high risk need to use caution and everything else. We’re not seeing any more deaths in the lower age groups or anything like that.”

To contact the Monroe County Health Department for information on vaccine options for COVID or the flu, call 618-939-3871.