Colleagues and I are doing far more resuscitations, crash intubations, and seeing far more patients in cramped and packed ERs. A bunch of bugs are to blame, including that-which-shall-not-be-named, and it's only getting started. Some advice: - Now is the time to be a bit more careful in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, like a subway train, bus, or plane. Maybe switch to WFH (work from home) if available, or wear a good quality mask when commuting or while at work/school or in crowded shops/malls. - Have a plan for antivirals if you're in a vulnerable category. Some jurisdictions easily dispense them through pharmacies, others go through an online application; find out ahead of time. - If you have cold or flu symptoms, stay home! It is no longer socially acceptable to 'tough it out' at work, and your co-workers will hate you if you try. - When sick with cold/flu symptoms, use rapid tests to check. There's no way clinically to tell a simple cold apart from flu or C19. You may have a mild course, but a more vulnerable or unlucky family member might not, and they could do badly. - Get updated vaccines while you can. Anecdote: elderly relative contracted Covid this week, his wife did not. Both were boosted 3w ago. He is now on Paxlovid and isolating from the rest of the family (including staying away from young kids and pregnant family members). So the vaccine provides some but not perfect protection against infection for a short period of time, and of course excellent protection against hospitalization. - Know when to go to the hospital. I've seen a few people end up in the ICU this week who should have come sooner to be assessed. In one case they were on multiple courses of antibiotics for a 'cold.' Not an exhaustive list: - Trouble breathing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, low oxygen levels (on a home monitor) - Significant chest pain - Fevers lasting more than 4-5 days - Poor oral intake, can't eat or drink much, severe vomiting/diarrhea - Be careful with travel, particularly cruise ships. Seems nearly every friend or patient returning from long-haul travel and cruises is getting sick. - When you recover, but you're feeling breathless and lethargic and a bit foggy, do not try to push through it. That could lead to these symptoms staying long-term (the dreaded Long Covid). Take it easy, and allow your body to heal from the damage done to it, and better luck dodging it next time! Best of luck to you all this season!

So let me get this straight 🔴 More kids are sick now than ever before 🔴 Hospitals and pediatric ICU units are overwhelmed 🔴 There's no children's Tylenol or Advil anywhere 🔴 All common antibiotics are running out And our leader's response is to do nothing? How does that work?