Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Mar, 2022 05:36 PM
VANCOUVER - British Columbia's provincial health officer says she's optimistic the province is moving to a "better place" that could see more COVID-19 restrictions lifted this month before spring break.
Dr. Bonnie Henry says a decline in hospitalizations, immunity from vaccination and the availability of at-home rapid tests point the way forward to normal activities like high school graduations that youth in particular need to feel connected to others.
Join Adrian Dix, Minister of Health and Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer for an update on COVID-19. #CovidBChttps://t.co/NqLNlkeM4D
However, she says not everyone will be ready or able to leave behind some pandemic measures like masks so it's important for people to be respectful of those who are immunocompromised or elderly because they're still at risk of infection.
She says businesses and workplaces will have to take responsibility for requiring some measures like vaccine passports, depending on the level of risk, and it's important to move slowly through a time of transition.
Henry says there are still some uncertainties about new variants, including BA. 2, with some cases present in B.C., though no cases of BA. 3 and Delta Omicron have been detected in the province.
Henry says she will soon shift to weekly updates as B.C. ensures it's prepared for a potential uptick in COVID-19 cases during respiratory season in the fall.
British Columbia closing bars, nightclubs and gyms amid climbing Omicron cases. The measures come into effect at 11:59 pm on December 22 and last until January 18. No indoor organized gatherings of any size will be allowed including weddings, receptions, holiday parties and other events under new restrictions.
There are 5,435 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 220,348 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 185 individuals are in hospital and 77 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.
As the rise of the Omicron variant upends Canada's COVID-19 response, experts say medical mask mandates should not only be abolished, but wearing respirators should become the norm.
NSD Canada is bringing back a requirement for everyone entering the country to have a pre-arrival negative molecular test result for COVID-19, even if travellers are returning after being away for under 72 hours.
Aseem Sharma, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Alberta in the renewable resources department, says extreme weather events are expected to be more "common, stronger and broader" in the future and he's calling for more research to determine its cause.
The new public health measures range from limits on venues that hold more than 1,000 people to 50 per cent capacity to no youth or adult sports tournaments over the Christmas holiday period and cancellation of all New Year's Eve parties, Henry said. Indoor family gatherings, including those at rental or holiday properties, are limited to one household, plus 10 guests, and everyone must be vaccinated.
