insidehalton.com careful around vulnerable," ran e, chief medical officer of health. Dr. Moore said the eve! wear Boas in public set- tings. It is not mandating the wearing of masks, not- ing that it impossible to enforce in social settings. Instead, Dr. Moore said, he is hoping to educate READERS’ CHOICE 2022 DIAMOND WINNER those interacting with thre: respiratory ill- nesses, including COVID, influenza an ratory sync: that is creating a strain on the pediatric sector of the health care system. It is the latter two that are hav- ing the biggest impact at the moment Moers said he is al- so asking that children be bes tween the ages of tw fivev wear: masks if they ar are able to and can put it on and take it off safely. "Itis the youngest chil dren, tho: that are ne etal tune able to severe outcomes from RSV, COVID and in- fluenza. We need to take all the necessary steps to keep them safe when it comes to RSV," he said. Andrew Francis Wallace photo Ontario's chief medical officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, issued a new appeal for mask wearing in indoor social settings, as well as indoor public spaces, at a news conference at Queen's Park. "What could be a cold to you, could lead to a severe respiratory infection in a child four and under." Dr. Moore said it willbe | wear masks. up to individual school Dr. Moore said every- boards as to whether they one should remember the decide to have students practices that helped slow the spread of COVID-19. - Screen daily for signs of illness and stay home when you are sick. Practice good hand hygiene and clean high- touch: surfaces. Stay up to date with vaccines, including the flu shot. Dr. Chris Simpson, ex- eri vice-president, at Ontario Heal ” said the prov- ince's hospitals are feeling the strain of anearly onset among ch: n. As sult, he me hospitals are redeploying resources to make sure children com- ing to the hospital are treated in a timely fash- lon. "In order to do this, oth- er par’ ts of the health sys- tem will be impacted,” he said. Woes already see- ing a reduction in the number of scheduled sur- we reallocate our resourc- es to focus on pediatrics." OakvilleBeaver READERS’ CHOICE 2022 PLATINUM WINNER