Changes to health orders being considered in light of higher COVID-19 case counts
British Columbia’s health minister says this is a time for caution given the new Omicron variant and rising COVID-19 case numbers in B.C., Canada and the rest of the world.
In light of that, Adrian Dix told an update Wednesday that possible changes to the province’s health restrictions are under review by the provincial health officer and other health officials.
“Dr. [Bonnie] Henry is reviewing any changes needed to public health orders that will be required in the coming days to address increased case counts, not just of Omicron, but Delta as well,” said Dix.
Dix says the review includes possibly bringing back capacity limits on events like hockey games such as what Ontario has done, reducing the NHL and NBA teams to 50 per cent capacity as of this Saturday.
“Dr. Henry and regional medical officers of health are meeting actively on all these points. The issue of capacity limits, the vaccine card, and if the vaccine card does apply to smaller events, those issues are all under active consideration by public health, and we’ll have more to say about that soon,” said Dix.
Dix noted case counts are up the last two days in B.C., with both days over 500 new infections.
Officials reported 584 new cases on Wednesday, the most since Nov. 4.
Some suggestions changes are on the horizon for BC’s covid policy but nothing specific today.
Dr. Henry reviewing whether any changes needed to public health restrictions, says @adriandix
And BC will announce a rapid test plan next week, he says.— Rob Shaw (@RobShaw_BC) December 16, 2021
The minister said B.C.’s third dose campaign is going well, with 633,000 residents receiving boosters, 14 per cent of those eligible 12 and older.
He said people will be able to book booster doses at 500 pharmacies by the end of this week and at 1,000 pharmacies by January.
Dix also said B.C. supports the federal travel advisory urging people to not travel internationally for non- essential trips.
“If it’s not essential, don’t go,” Dix stated.
“I know many people were hoping to get a break away from British Columbia, but it’s also important to put your health and the health of the community first, and that requires taking very seriously the guidance of the federal government,” the minster cautioned.
“There will be other trips, but you only have one life.”
On other matters, Dix said B.C. is still waiting for at-home rapid COVID tests which are not yet available in Canada and won’t be available until January and perhaps not in the numbers they had hoped.
He advised 77,857 children in 5-11 age demo have received a first dose of vaccine, which works out to 22 per cent of category with 146,000 vaccine registrations received.