Now from Times Square, here's what you need to know.

Respiratory illnesses across the country. What do we need to know?

Yeah, so we're looking at the number of emergency room visits using data like wastewater analysis to understand where we are in terms of this viral pandemic.

I want to show you this picture of a map that is using data collected from the nation in order to understand

where people are getting sick in states like Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, and Connecticut,

we're seeing moderate levels of increased respiratory illness.

That means patients coming in with cough and blue-like symptoms.

Overall, the numbers are still low, which is less than where it was last year.

But last year it's important to understand that those numbers came earlier.

So right now we're on track for what we would expect to be a typically or typically time

respiratory season.

That means that right now is still a great time to get vaccinated as we prepare to move

into the holiday period where we're about to meet our grandparents and see them again

and see the younger people

in our families. You say it's been a low, low numbers, which is hard for me to believe because

I've been sick like five times. I have a toddler. But what can we do to keep from getting sick?

Because nobody wants to be sick this time of year. You know, I think awareness is number one. Speaking of

toddlers, although rates of respiratory illnesses are still moderate,

whooping cough is still at the highest levels we've seen since 2014. That most affects children

under the age of one, so being cognizant of that. And then making sure that everyone is up to

date on their vaccines. We're talking about blue vaccines, COVID vaccines, and also making sure

that children are in track with their recommended vaccines. And then as we go into the holidays, grabbing that mask, grabbing those extra COVID and blue tests

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