RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced the release of a new Respiratory Illness Dashboard on Tuesday.
According to the VDH, the new dashboard will replace several older dashboards in order to provide insights into respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, the flu and RSV by showcasing respiratory disease trends across the Commonwealth.
“We believe this new resource will empower Virginians with the information they need to make informed decisions to protect themselves and their loved ones during respiratory illness season,” State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton, MD, said. “By staying informed and taking preventive measures — such as keeping up with vaccines, improving air quality, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands frequently, and staying home when sick — everyone can contribute to reducing the spread of illness.”
On the dashboard, trends will be highlighted by age group through information gathered from emergency department (ED) visit data.
The dashboard will also be able to track the number of deaths attributed to COVID, the flu or RSV, as well as identify seasonal flu subtypes and track outbreak trends by setting, such as in schools, daycares and nursing homes. Vaccination rates will also be available to view on the dashboard.
To view the new Respiratory Illness Dashboard, visit the VDH’s website here.