MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Extra individuals are gathering for meals and fellowship as the vacation season continues, however some may very well be leaving with germs and diseases like COVID, flu, RSV, and even the widespread chilly.

So how can we keep wholesome?

Dr. Sandra Arnold with Le Bonheur Youngsters’s Hospital says round this time of 12 months, they see lots of kids with flu and respiratory diseases, so individuals of all ages want to remain protected.

“We’re seeing our fair proportion of sufferers with critical bacterial infections on the hospital,” she mentioned.

Dr. Arnold says if you’re sick this season, the primary rule is to remain residence.

“We’re seeing our fair proportion of sufferers with critical bacterial infections on the hospital,” she mentioned. “You don’t need your loved ones to make individuals sick if individuals are coming over, so should you aren’t feeling properly, don’t come to the social gathering as a result of individuals don’t need you there.”

We requested Dr. Arnold if individuals must be cautious about giant gatherings forward of New 12 months’s Eve and New 12 months’s Day.

“You can not make sure that you’ll not be uncovered to somebody who has a respiratory virus this time of 12 months, even when everybody says they really feel okay. So will depend on what your danger tolerance is,” she mentioned.

We checked out the latest report from Shelby County Well being Division. It reveals from December 17 to December 23, there have been greater than 800 new COVID instances, and 6 extra individuals have died from the virus.

“One of many causes we’re having such a foul respiratory season is as a result of we went two years with none virus and now we’re nonetheless paying off that immune debt,” Dr. Arnold mentioned.

Dr. Arnold says masks and hand washing are nonetheless nice methods to remain protected.