Restrictions coming for Northern Health region over explosion of COVID-19 cases

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — More restrictions are coming for those living in Northern B.C., after a surge in COVID-19 cases were reported in recent days.

The limits are primarily on social gatherings, and are similar to restrictions in place in the B.C. Interior, where the most COVID-19 cases have been reported in the province.

B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the move Thursday, saying it was prompted by an explosion of cases in the Northern Health region.

“We have had challenges in the last few weeks” she said, noting clusters began in industrial camps earlier this month.

Dr. Henry blames 6X increase rate of transmission on pockets of “very low immunization” in Fort St. James, Nechako, Vanderhoof and Prince George.

New measures include limits on social gatherings in your home and no more than 50 people outside your home. #bcpoli @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) September 2, 2021

On Aug. 27, more than 30 workers at the Trans Mountain worksite in Valemount tested positive for the virus.

Henry says public health and the employer were able to address the cluster, and bring those cases down, but they now seeing many new cases linked to social gatherings.

“Now, sadly, we are seeing some transmission that has taken off in some communities,” she says, adding it has primarily been among unvaccinated people.

The region has seen a six-fold increase in the rate of infection in the last 10 days, leading to a spike in hospitalizations and patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

Dr. Henry blames 6X increase rate of transmission on pockets of “very low immunization” in Fort St. James, Nechako, Vanderhoof and Prince George.

New measures include limits on social gatherings in your home and no more than 50 people outside your home. #bcpoli @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) September 2, 2021

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Ninety per cent of COVID hospitalizations in northern hospitals are unvaccinated people. The number has increased rapidly over the summer.

“We have some hospitals with very significant challenges,” Dix says, as he urged people to help ease the strain on healthcare workers by getting vaccinated.

Fort St. James, the Vanderhoof area, and Prince George, are seeing high numbers of cases and transmissions, but below-average vaccination rates.

“It is stressing our health care system,” Henry said about the need for more restrictions as a result of the surge in cases.

Thursday, the Fort St. John Hospital reported more cases connected to the outbreak in the Inpatient Unit.

Henry is also urging people to reschedule their plans to travel recreationally to the north, and to limit social interactions as the virus continues to spread.

On Thursday, there were 103 new cases in the region