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Infectious disease expert urges flu shots, cautions San Diegans this Fall

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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - As winter approaches, doctors are worried about more than the novel coronavirus.

"When winter comes we all tend to go indoors, and [viruses are] more likely to spread between us in school, in workplaces it's just going to happen," Dr. Davey Smith, Chief of Infectious Diseases at UC San Diego, said.

If you develop a cough, fever, chills and you're achy, Dr. Smith said it could be a variety of viruses.

"We are going to have multiple viruses running around in the community at the same time. Double triple, it's not just the flu it's RSV that kids oftentimes get, adenoviruses and other seasonal viruses and they all look the same," he said.

Dr. Smith is urging San Diegans to get a flu shot, especially this year, concerned about the hospital being overrun, "it's not just the PPE, it's the hospital beds, the doctors and the nurses, and everybody who has to take care of them."

Cajon Valley Union School District has had students on campus since July. Poway is bringing students back on campus as part of a phased reopening plan.

Vista Unified School Districtplans to reopen Tuesday.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one million Americans returned to work in September.

That combined with local COVID-19 cases rising, we could be in for a rough Fall and Winter.

Dr. Davey said vigilance is key, "that means masks, washing our hands, staying at a safe distance, and if we can't do that then we're going to have problems in San Diego."