NC is currently in a ‘tripledemic.’ Should we all wear masks? What experts recommend
With respiratory illnesses spreading across much of the nation, including in North Carolina, many are considering going back to masking, and experts say that can make a difference.
The so-called “tripledemic” — the confluence of cases of COVID-19, the flu and RSV spreading — has left many in the community sick and health care systems, including local hospitals and pharmacies, strained.
A return to more mask-wearing isn’t a silver bullet, experts say, but it could help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.
Here’s what to know about the state of respiratory illnesses in North Carolina and what experts say masks can and can’t do in the fight against them:
How bad is the ‘tripledemic’ in NC?
North Carolina currently has “very high” levels of flu, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s nationwide tracker. That looks like almost 3,000 people testing positive for the flu in the first week of December alone, data from the state Department of Health shows.
On top of that, more than 11,000 COVID cases were reported in North Carolina during the same week, according to state data.
Respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV, is another common virus spiking this year in many parts of the U.S., the CDC says.
“The unusually high number of RSV infections so early in the year are already pushing hospitals to capacity,” the North Carolina Medical Society found.
Increased illness has already put a strain on local health care systems, with some hospitals imposing restrictions on visitors and pharmacies struggling to keep over-the-counter treatments in stock.
Do masks protect against COVID, the flu and RSV?
The CDC’s guidance on masking against COVID-19 is based on “community levels.”
If your community is at “medium” level spread, masking is recommended for folks who are high-risk. If COVID transmission is “high,” masking is recommended for everyone.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters on an early December call that masking can be a useful precaution to take when respiratory illnesses are spreading, CNBC reported, especially during the holiday season.
“One need not wait on CDC action in order to put a mask on,” Walensky said. “We would encourage all of those preventive measures — hand washing, staying home when you’re sick, masking, increased ventilation — during respiratory virus season, but especially in areas of high COVID-19 community levels.”
The Mayo Clinic advises that “wearing a mask might help protect you from the human influenza A and B viruses,” but that “the best way to prevent the flu is by taking precautions such as getting vaccinated, washing your hands regularly and avoiding people who are sick.”
Masking can make a big difference, Yale Medicine notes, when around crowds of people, such as when traveling during the holidays.
Is ‘one-way masking’ effective?
As fewer and fewer people have masked regularly in recent months, some have questioned whether still wearing a mask is worthwhile.
One study published in the National Library of Medicine found that people who are masking regularly “in indoor public settings” are still “less likely” to test positive for COVID-19.
That’s especially true, the study found when wearing a high-quality mask, such as an N-95, that fits properly.
This story was originally published December 13, 2022 at 3:26 PM.
