Health officials warn of hospital crunch
Get vaccinated and stay home: Dr. Strang
HALIFAX — Health officials are urging Nova Scotians to up their game when it comes to preventing respiratory infections amid a surge of viruses in the province.
Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, and Dr. Andrew Lynk, pediatrics chief at the IWK Health Centre, made the plea at a news conference Nov. 17.
“We need to re-engage with the multi-layered approach that we have successfully used during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Strang said.
“First, get vaccinated against those viruses that we have vaccines for. Be up to date with your COVID vaccines. Get your annual influenza vaccine. This is most important for the very young and the very old and those with significant chronic health conditions, but these people need the rest of us to also be vaccinated to give them maximum protection.
“No. 2, if you're sick with cold or flu symptoms stay home if at all possible, even if your symptoms are mild, such as a scratchy throat or a slightly runny nose.”
He urged employers to do their best to help their workers with virtual work programs, sick leave and not demanding doctors’ notes.
There have been calls for a return to masking mandates but Strang said this isn’t necessary and wouldn’t be effective.
“For mask mandates to be effective, there needs to be widespread public buy-in and we no longer have that in Nova Scotia and across Canada. And, also, mask mandates can only apply in public places and what public health is seeing now is that much of the transmission of respiratory viruses is happening in settings where mask mandates would not apply anyway, like a private gathering.” Lynk pleaded with parents of young children to get them vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19, and not to bring them to crowded gatherings.
“For heaven’s sake, for parents, if you’ve got babies or infants or toddlers, and you don’t have to take them to the snotty-nosed cousins’ house to play or visit, then don’t do it. Please just don’t do it right now.”