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According to data provided during the meeting, cases of all three illnesses saw peaks around the holidays but slowly declined throughout the month.

�����Ƶ�A lot of times we have illnesses peak due to the holidays. So, this is right around Christmastime and New Year�����Ƶ�s. So, this is where people gather and get together with their families,�����Ƶ� Earl said. �����Ƶ�A lot of times, people don�����Ƶ�t even realize they�����Ƶ�re sick and can give it to their loved ones.�����Ƶ�

According to Earl, RSV typically peaks around November before going back down. She said flu cases usually peak during the holidays, as well, and again when students start returning to school in early January before dropping back off.

Earl said the health department has been watching a new COVID variant, JN.1, move through Europe. Although COVID cases saw a significant peak in January 2022 when the Omicron variant began to spread, she does not expect the same outcome with JN.1.

Instead, she said the new variant has already been declining in cases.

The number of reported positive COVID-19 tests in West Virginia decreased over the course of January to about 9%, and the number of reported positive influenza tests has decreased to around 3%, according to data provided by Earl during the meeting.

Last week, positive tests for COVID-like illnesses had decreased by almost 2% as compared to the previous week. Positive tests for influenza-like illnesses had decreased by around 0.7%, and RSV had decreased by almost 2%.

Cabell County was in the orange zone for COVID-19 hospitalizations last week, meaning equal to or more than 20 admissions per 100,000 residents. This week, Cabell is in the �����Ƶ�yellow zone,�����Ƶ� meaning there have been between 10 and 19 admissions per 100,000 residents.

Still, Earl said COVID-19 trends have stayed the same so far this year. She said flu trends are also comparable to last year and could keep decreasing, although cases peaked somewhat early last year.

She also said RSV cases are not as bad as they were last year and should continue to decrease into February.

Overall, Earl said, RSV cases are usually highest in November and December, while flu peaks November through January and February, and COVID peaks are reliant on gatherings.

Earl noted that COVID guidelines have been changing as health providers are becoming more knowledgeable about the illness and different variants are coming out. Still, she said increased immunity and more people being vaccinated has helped to decrease COVID symptoms and transmission rates.

She said guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on quarantining and staying safe from illnesses could be different for each person, and she recommended people who test positive for COVID contact a doctor or refer to COVID guidelines on the CDC website.

According to the CDC website, people who test positive for COVID-19 are the most infectious during the first five days and should be isolated during that time. The CDC also says anyone who believes they were exposed to COVID-19 should wear a mask and/or take precautions for up to 10 days after exposure, as they may still develop the illness during that time.

The CDC website also notes that a good way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is by staying up-to-date on vaccines, improving room ventilation and spending more time outdoors.

According to a clinical report from Kathleen Napier, director of nursing at the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, the health department has received a limited number of doses of the 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine for uninsured and underinsured individuals. The health department will also offer the vaccine for children during regular clinic hours.

Earl said the best way people can protect themselves from illnesses in general is to mask up if there is a rise in cases or, if someone is immunocompromised, wash their hands and use etiquette.