Probably so. And I suspect maybe more people are going to the hospital instead of just going to Walgreen's for some Theraflu or something, due to enhanced news coverage about the latest bug going around every week.Quote:
I think COVID also just changed work environments. People are far more likely to call work and say they're sick and need to work from home than they were in 2019. And it's far, far more likely to not be frowned upon.
One of the nurses said they normally get busy this time of year, but not like this. Regardless of perceptions, the hospital bed shortage turned out to be a real, objective fact.
My mom did a stint in ICU earlier this year for pneumonia, and that ain't fun.