Health Minister Adrian Dix says the situation regarding respiratory virus infections, like influenza and COVID-19, is nowhere near as bad here, as it is in Ontario.
Children’s hospitals in that province are overcrowded with young patients suffering from respiratory illnesses, and Ontario’s chief medical officer of health is now “strongly recommending” that people resume wearing face masks.
Dix says the pediatric ICU load in B-C is currently only 70 percent of capacity but they are closely watching the situation.
So far, the government has no plans to change masking recommendations but Dix adds that residents should keep their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations up to date.
In addition, Ottawa’s Flu-Watch service confirms we’re now in an influenza epidemic.
Its report says both infection numbers and hospitalizations are way above normal for this time of year.
And flu season doesn’t peak until January or February. More than half the cases reported have been in children under 17.
– with files from Vista Radio newswire
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