Brian Lair on WNYC, and I don't know if you want to wear a mask when you get together with your family for Christmas or at your New Year's Eve party.

But according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York City and the surrounding area saw the highest levels of flu in the nation during the weekend in December 13th. New York City's Health Department raised a red flag after seeing a 22% increase in flu-related

emergency room visits the week before.

In response to this particularly active respiratory disease season, the City's Health

Department launched the don't miss out media campaign to help us have less sick time and more

time together with family and friends.

Here's one kind of bracing example.

The New York Times reported that one school in Brooklyn, PolyPrep Country Day School,

closed for two days earlier this month after 200 students were sent home due to flu-like symptoms. So with me now to talk

about the Don't Miss Out campaign and other public health news is Dr. Michelle Morris, interim

commissioner of health at the New York City Department of Health. We'll also ask her a little bit about

the incoming administration and maybe whether or not she's interested in

staying in the job. Dr. Morse, welcome back to WNYC. Very nice of you to join us again.

Good morning. Brian. Thanks for having me on. And listeners, we can take questions for Dr. Morse

about this year's flu season, and we can add RSV and COVID-19 to that as well.

212-433 WNYC, even things relating to public health in New York during the Trump administration,

federal funding for the health department is down and things like that.

212-433 WNYC with a story, a question, a comment. 212-433-9692.

I guess my first question, Dr. Morris, is how bad is it?

It's a great place to start the conversation, Brian, and I'm so glad that you have to come

on.

We are experiencing what is already shaping up to be a pretty tough flu season, unfortunately.

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