New Zealand Hospitals Under Strain From Spike in Non-COVID Respiratory Diseases

New Zealand Hospitals Under Strain From Spike in Non-COVID Respiratory Diseases
A newborn baby in the maternity ward in a file photo. Steve Parsons - Pool/Getty Images
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New Zealand hospitals are experiencing high case numbers of children infected with non-COVID-19 related respiratory illnesses as a result of lockdowns and social distancing rules.

An outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital is causing the postponement of planned surgeries to ensure there are enough hands to care for all the sick children. The hospital is also urging parents not to bring children to visit other kids.