Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health is urging caution over the holiday season as flu cases spike across the province.
Dr. Robert Strang on Friday recommended people wear masks in busy public spaces and when sick, given the pressures facing the province’s health care system.
Usually the flu season lasts 10 weeks, with a peak in January and February. However, according to Dr. Strang, it is likely that the province is already approaching the peak.
“Our health care system is under strain, so I appeal to all Nova Scotians: we must take all the preventive measures we can,” he said in a scrum.
Cases of influenza and other illnesses, such as respiratory syncytial virus, are contributing to overcrowding in emergency rooms and hospitals, which are at capacity. Dr Strang said even a small number of virus-related hospitalizations are straining an already struggling hospital system.
“We have to deal with a large number of cases,” he said. Most infected people will not be hospitalized, but they need medical information, so they turn to the emergency room.
Dr Strang therefore asks anyone who is sick to avoid social gatherings and encourages anyone who has not had the flu shot to reach out.
As of next week, children aged six months to four years will be able to receive a dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 at the same time as another vaccine, such as that against the flu for example. Previously, two weeks had to pass before a child in this age group could receive a second vaccine.
The province reported Thursday that 686 new cases of influenza A were detected last week and 100 people were hospitalized with the virus, including eight in intensive care.