Official State of Rhode Island website

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Respiratory Viruses

Protect yourself from COVID-19, Flu, and RSV

It’s common to get sick from respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), especially in the fall and winter. Each year, respiratory viruses are responsible for millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States.

Respiratory Virus Guidance Snapshot
Respiratory Virus Guidance

Core Prevention Strategies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people use core prevention strategies to protect yourself and others from respiratory virus illnesses.

Additional Prevention Strategies

You can choose from these additional prevention strategies to further protect yourself and others:

Key Times for Prevention

All these prevention strategies can help reduce your risk of getting sick. They are especially helpful when:

Where to get care

It’s common to get sick from respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), especially in the fall and winter. Each year, respiratory viruses are responsible for millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. Check out current Rhode Island Respiratory Virus Data trends.

Hospital emergency departments in Rhode Island are currently very crowded. Children and adults in emergency departments with less serious health issues are experiencing long wait times. If you or your child does not need emergency medical care, please do not go to the emergency department. Long waits in the emergency department are frustrating, and they expose you and your family to new sicknesses.

Many respiratory viruses can be treated more quicky and effectively by a primary care doctor or in an urgent care facility than in an emergency department.

Contact your primary care provider or pediatrician if you believe you or your child need medical care. Your provider can offer advice on whether an in-person evaluation is needed and the best location (doctor's office, urgent care, emergency room) for care.

RIDOH has lists of primary care providers, urgent care facilities, and health centers online.

For more information on non-emergency treatment options and when to seek emergency medical care, visit Right Place, Right Care.

Respiratory Virus Prevention Tips

 

Check out current Rhode Island Respiratory Virus Data trends.

Data

Physician Visit for Influenza Like Illnesses
To understand when and where influenza activity is occurring, to monitor influenza-related illness, outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths, and to determine circulating and emerging influenza virus strains.
rsv visualization
Our purpose is to provide a snapshot of RSV circulation within Rhode Island.
Respiratory Virus Data
COVID-19, flu, and RSV data