National

B.C. surgeries cancelled due to unvaccinated staff

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Nov, 2021 03:06 PM

VICTORIA - Surgeries in some British Columbia hospitals are being postponed due to staffing shortages created by more than 3,000 unvaccinated health-care workers who have been put on unpaid leave.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says there are currently 3,325 health-care workers across the province who have not been immunized against COVID-19 in violation of the government's proof-of-vaccination policy for health-care workers.

Join Adrian Dix, Minister of Health and Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer for an update on COVID-19. #CovidBC
https://t.co/ika8kszShS
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) November 1, 2021

Dix says the staffing shortages will result in reductions of operating services in hospitals in the Interior and Fraser health authorities, while added demand for health care has forced surgery postponements in many other parts of the province.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says officials have been speaking with health-care workers in one-on-one meetings to discuss their vaccination concerns, but some are saying they are adamantly opposed to the vaccines.

She says health workers who do not recognize the importance of vaccines in battling the pandemic may not be in the right profession.

Henry also announced people in B.C. who received two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will soon be notified they are eligible to receive a booster shot within six months of their second vaccine.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Number of active wildfires in B.C. remains at 250

Fire information officer Taylor Colman says crews are seeing between three and five fires start each day compared with about 40 in July. She says most of the wildfires of note — including White Rock Lake at about 810 square kilometres and Lytton Creek at 845 square kilometres — have not seen much growth.

Number of active wildfires in B.C. remains at 250

Wildlife another B.C. wildfire casualty: expert

Scientists are most worried about old-growth forests in fire areas, which are home to the Canada lynx, the marten, fishers, caribou and northern goshawk, she said.

Wildlife another B.C. wildfire casualty: expert

Mountie in Kelowna, B.C., charged with assault

The prosecution service says in a statement that Const. Lacey Browning faces one count of assault after a wellness check in Kelowna on Jan. 20, 2020. A civil lawsuit was settled this year between Browning and Mona Wang, who was a nursing student at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus.

Mountie in Kelowna, B.C., charged with assault

1711 COVID19 cases over 3 days

There are 5,056 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 153,627 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 133 individuals are in hospital and 80 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

1711 COVID19 cases over 3 days

Surrey RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance to locate a 14-year-old missing girl

UPDATE: The RCMP is pleased to confirm that the 14 year-old youth that was reported missing on August 23, 2021, has been located, and she is safe and sound. Thanks to the media and public for your assistance. The original release has been deleted from our social account.

Surrey RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance to locate a 14-year-old missing girl

BC is now second province after Quebec to require a vaccine passport card

British Columbia will be requiring proof of vaccination for people attending certain social and recreational settings and events. As of September 13, one dose of vaccine will be required for entry to these settings. Proof of vaccination will also be required for people visiting from outside of B.C. using a provincially/territorially recognized official record alongside valid government ID from the jurisdiction.