Health officials are reminding Canadians to maintain healthy habits during the holiday season, as influenza leads to more school absences and hospitalizations .

People over 65, under five, infants, those who are pregnant or living with chronic medical conditions are among those especially at risk of serious complications from respiratory infectious diseases, officials say .

Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) usually increase in the fall and winter, and COVID-19 continues to circulate throughout the year, the Public Health Agency of Canada says.

The latest federal respiratory virus surveillance report, for the week ending Nov. 29, said positive tests for influenza rose 13 per cent, while the virus that causes COVID was steady at 6.6 per cent.

Influenza cases are incre

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