There is a light at the end of the tunnel, seriously, and it is not an oncoming train! As our acute care brethren enjoy the sunset of the reporting requirement on May 1, it marks a turning point in the government’s real-time tracking of airborne pathogens that drove coronavirus surveillance and reports like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s FluView. It comes as U.S. COVID hospitalizations are around the lowest levels since the start of the pandemic, but a new variant called KP.2 is rapidly spreading in multiple regions.

Reporting will still be optional for acute care, and some health systems may combine data for all facilities in their network. The government stopped or scaled back other data reporting at the end of the public health emergency, covering metrics like daily new COVID cases and test positivity. Additionally, after this week, flu hospitalization data will not be included in CDC reports for the remainder of the 2023-2024 season.

So yes, the light at the end of the tunnel is positive, although post-acute care providers have and continue to be held to more stringent standards. Why? Not clear but in fairness, COVID deaths were the highest among the frail elderly. Is that justification? Maybe, maybe not but stay the course, we have come such a long way, respect the CDC’s guidance and requirements, it won’t be long now, trust me! Stay well and stay informed!