Province to update respiratory illness conditions in B.C. today

VICTORIA — Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry are holding a news conference later today to update residents about respiratory illness in B.C.

In its latest update released Thursday, the B-C Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC) says COVID-19 test positivity, cases, hospitalizations and deaths have decreased between early October to December 2.

But it says adult and pediatric emergency department visits for respiratory symptoms have increased since late October.

The BC CDC says Influenza A is behind a rise in flu activity, accounting for 88 per cent of tested cases this flu season.