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WAILUKU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Medical professionals are worried about a “twindemic,” a two-stroke of the ongoing COVID rise mixed with the upcoming flu season.
Healthcare workers say it could further stress Hawaii’s fragile healthcare industry.
“The health care system here in Hawaii is very tight with the rise of COVID we have now. Therefore, each additional hospitalized patient you add, and if it’s the flu, puts extra pressure on a system that already has a lot of stress, ”said Maui’s chief medical officer, Dr. Michael Shea.
The flu season usually starts in the fall and lasts through the winter. Last year was the mildest flu season on record.
Dr. Cory Lehano, a pharmacist at Mauliola Pharmacy, says most people stayed home.
“Last year we dispensed a flu medicine all year round. Therefore, this only demonstrates the extent to which the aspect of social distancing played a role in influenza reduction and prevention, ”Dr. Lehano said.
Dr. Lehano predicts a much busier flu season this year as more people mingle and relax in the mandates of social distancing and masking.
“Now, with people coming back to work, opening schools, interactions between students and parents, this can cause an influx,” Dr. Lehano said.
On Tuesday, there were 26 positive COVID cases at the Maui Memorial Medical Center, six at the Intensive Care Unit and one with a ventilator. Hospital officials say this is a reduction from last week.
Dr. Shea is optimistic and hopes to present a mild flu season again this year.
“Because the flu is less contagious than COVID, things like masking and hand washing can work,” he said. “With the kids back in school, there’s definitely a little more risk than when we all closed last year … I think we can still prevent that.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is no harm in getting the flu vaccine and COVID booster at the same time.
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