‘Get back to basics’; COVID spreading rapidly in Northern B.C.

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — B.C.’s top doctor is out with yet another desperate plea for British Columbians to get COVID-19 vaccination rates up because some parts of the province are being hit harder than others by the virus.

The greatest area of concern for Dr. Bonnie Henry right now is in Northern Health, where COVID-19 is spreading faster than the rest of the province.

She says extra measures are being considered “to break the chains of transmission.”

“People are becoming severely ill. Even young people, mostly unvaccinated younger people, and hospitals are pushed to the limit, across the North,” she said.  “This is directly related to the vaccination rates in the communities where people are living. Communities with lower rates of immunization have higher rates of spread of the illness [will see] the risk for everybody goes up.”

Ppl in North DBH says have to get back to the basics of protection as health determins if additional mitigation measures are needed potentially booster doses.
Stay home when ill, wear a mask, keep a safe distance — **get vaccinated**.#covid19 #bcpoli @NEWS1130 @CityNewsVAN

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) October 12, 2021

Over the Thanksgiving long weekend, the Northern Health region recorded 351 infections and seven deaths.

As of Tuesday, the region has a total of 833 active cases.

Particularly in this area, Henry is urging people to “get back to the basics.”

“We need to ensure we’re using all of the layers of protection we have available. That means washing your hands regularly, staying home when you’re unwell, wearing your mask, particularly when you’re around other people who are more vulnerable and in indoor public spaces, keeping a safe distance, and also getting vaccinated. It is not too late to make a difference for your own health and to protect the care system in your community.” she said.

“What I’m asking people to do is not new, but we know it works.”

Related Articles: 

• B.C. records 28 COVID-related deaths over Thanksgiving long weekend

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

Henry adds the province is looking at whether booster doses are needed in certain communities to manage this severe illness, and outbreaks.

In areas of the North, Doctor Bonnie Henry says it’s possible more restrictions may be needed to bring cases down.

According to Health Minister Adrian Dix, over the pandemic 55 critical care patients have been transferred from Northern Health to hospitals on Vancouver Island in the Fraser health authority and Vancouver Coastal health.

Out of the 55 transfers, 43 are positive for COVID-19, and 42 are not fully vaccinated.

Just this weekend, 14 people from Northern Health were airlifted to ICUs elsewhere.

“Thanksgiving Monday. Four people were transferred from Northern Health to either Vancouver Island or Metro Vancouver. On Sunday one, on Saturday five, on Friday four.”

There are 40 critical care base beds in all of Northern B.C.

Areas with higher vaccinations could see some restrictions ease

While the North is a challenge, Henry says there are parts of the region in the Northwest, including Haida Gwaii, where vaccinating rates are high “and we’re not seeing that type of transmission.”

“We look at Fraser East where we see a lot more transmission and COVID in the community, compared to Surrey and other parts of Fraser Health, in Vancouver Coastal and the Lower Mainland.”

So, Henry says the province is looking at handling the pandemic in the province on a regional basis.

Some regions could see capacity limits at events lifted.

“I think I said in August that I was hoping we’d see a full arena for a Canucks game or for a concert or for a symphony – I think for many parts of the province that is still in the cards,” she said.

However, face covers are not going anytime soon.

“There’s some good evidence that keeps coming up that even in fully vaccinated populations when you’re crowded together indoors for a period of time, it makes it safer for everybody to be wearing masks, so that part of it may need to stay for longer.”