A Covid-19 ‘senior wave’ is driving up hospitalizations

When Linda Stewart felt a tickle in her throat a few weeks ago, she got worried.

She’s a 76-year-old woman, and she was well aware of the risks posed to her and her husband’s health by Covid-19, flu and other colds that are sweeping the United States amid a rough respiratory virus season.

“I don’t want to take any chances with my health,” she said.

Throughout the pandemic, a positive Covid-19 test for a senior has carried an extra heavy weight.

Only about 13% of all reported cases in the...