Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Dr. Andrew Lynk, president and chief of pediatrics at IWK, will answer questions during a press conference at 1:00 PM AT. In its weekly respiratory watch updates, Nova Scotia Public Health reports an increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at this point in the year compared to previous years. IWK’s pediatric intensive care unit is operating at 100-160 percent capacity between November 4 and November 15. Earlier this month, Lynk told CBC News that the children’s hospital is seeing an increase in children admitted for respiratory problems other than COVID-19, with 140 to 150 children visiting the emergency room each. A normal busy day would see 100 to 120 visitors to the ER. On November 6, IWK reported a record number of visitors — 200 — to its emergency department. RSV infects the lungs and respiratory tract. It can lead to serious infection in some people, including children under two and older adults with pre-existing conditions. For most people, RSV leads to cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, cough, and fever.
