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Covid-19 Information
Last Content Update:
Northampton Weekly COVID-19 Dashboard
Respiratory Illness Update 1/27/2023
Information on current trends in respiratory illnesses:
Nationally and locally, we are being affected by multiple respiratory viruses. In particular, influenza (flu), COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are all affecting our community.
COVID: Based on CDC data, Hampshire County has decreased to a "substantial" level of community transmission of COVID-19. The county remains in the "medium" risk level in terms of COVID's current burden on the healthcare system, with hospitalizations still elevated. Case numbers continue to undercount the level of COVID in our community, since they rely on commercial tests and many people are using home tests. The latest wastewater data for both Northampton and Hampshire County show a decline in cases over the last few weeks, after a significant spike over the holidays.
More information on wastewater sampling can be found HERE and HERE.
Flu: Our unusually harsh flu season seems to have passed its peak, and flu case numbers are currently very low. Although the worst is over for the moment, experts are predicting a possible second flu peak later in the season, driven by a different type of flu, called "Flu B." The flu vaccine this year protects against both types of flu, and it's not too late to get it now!
RSV is particularly dangerous for young children and the elderly, although people of any age can be infected and pass the virus to others. Common symptoms in healthy adults and older children are cough, runny nose, sore throat, fatigue and sometimes fever, but when passed to young children RSV can cause severe respiratory distress and even death. Cases appear to have peaked in early December, but this disease continues to circulate.
What you can do:
The best ways to avoid becoming ill and to protect our community are still the same: getting all recommended vaccines including the new bivalent booster vaccine, wearing a high quality surgical or KN95 mask in indoor public spaces or in crowds, regularly washing hands, and improving ventilation in indoor spaces (such as opening windows, and/or using HEPA or MERV13 filters). If you have symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough, runny nose, sore throat, or fever, get tested for COVID-19. If you're positive, follow all isolation and quarantine guidelines. If you test negative, stay home until your symptoms are improving and you've been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol.
More information on specific prevention measures can be found HERE.
Learn More About COVID Community Levels
Hampshire County Community Level Tracker
View COVID-19 Dashboard Archive
Questions about the COVID-19 Dashboard? Email healthdept@northamptonma.gov
Note about current COVID-19 case data: The presented data is most likely an undercount of cases in the community. This is due to factors such as lack of reporting of home self-tests and the presence of asymptomatic cases.
