Travel, and previous COVID restrictions are a factor in the surge in respiratory illness circulating in the community.

Travel and other strict public health restrictions were put in place in the early days of the pandemic when the virus was new and before vaccines were developed and distributed.

The Janeway has put measures in place to deal with a surge in young patients presenting at the ER with respiratory illnesses since the flu season began.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says two years of COVID restrictions has resulted in very young children with little to no exposure to the regular viruses that circulate each season.

And that’s resulted in a spike in cases among children who haven’t built up that natural immunity to more common illnesses.

Vaccines provide similar protections as exposure.