Doctors at a news conference organized by the Ontario Medical Association said Wednesday that the flu has arrived early in the province and more than half of the cases of the disease in Canada so far have been in children and teenagers. The early arrival of the flu, a resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and the continued spread of COVID-19 have created a “triple threat” respiratory season that is sending many children to the hospital, and the situation is expected to worsen in the coming months, doctors said. . “It’s a bit of a perfect storm,” said Dr. Rod Lim, director of ER at Children’s Hospital in London, Ont. The pediatric health care system is under significant pressure due to staffing challenges, drug supply chain issues and the early circulation of viruses that typically peak in January, February and March, Lim said.
Preparing for ‘unbelievably difficult winter’
“Most of us in the pediatric field are preparing for an incredibly challenging winter,” he said. Lim’s hospital is currently seeing “record volumes”, including small babies arriving with difficulty breathing, and said he expected the high numbers of hospitalizations from viral illnesses to “get worse before they get better”. Dr. Rose Zacharias, president of the Ontario Medical Association, said her organization is urging the public to get a flu shot and be aware of the COVID-19 vaccine. Masks are not currently required in most venues in Ontario. Zacharias said the club was following public health advice on masks, but advised people to wear masks in crowded indoor spaces and around those most at risk. He also said that “we have to be prepared to orient ourselves” to viral disease trends. “Our whole conversation today is about the increasing risk of respiratory disease, and we know that masks can protect there,” he said. “We will continue to rely on our public health expertise and public health experts and the advice they give us.”
‘Wear a mask when you can’: Ford
Some doctors have begun calling for renewed mask mandates in light of viral disease trends and pressures on hospitals, and Toronto’s board of health this week asked its top doctor to explore mandatory face coverings as an option to mitigate the spread. disease. Ontario’s chief medical officer told The Canadian Press last week that he will soon make a decision on whether to withhold recommendations based on viral disease trends burdening the health system. Dr. Kieran Moore said he would make a recommendation about masking in some inpatient settings if delayed surgeries are affected by COVID-19 and would recommend mask orders be reinstated if there are further results. Asked about the possibility of bringing back mask orders at a news conference Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said he would continue to follow Moore’s advice. “Wear a mask when you can if you’re at risk,” Ford said, encouraging anyone who hasn’t gotten their latest COVID-19 booster or flu shot to do so.
