B.C. doctors group opposes lifting COVID-19-related capacity limits on events

A group of B.C. doctors and researchers is worried plans for the province to lift event capacity limits on Oct. 25 could cause a spike in cases, and further overwhelm hospitals.

On Wednesday, the group ‘Protect Our Province B.C.’ held its first panel discussion, focusing on how the coronavirus spreads through aerosol transmission. Described as a “briefing,” the group says it is presenting an alternative to the updates from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

RELATED: B.C. to lift capacity limits for organized indoor gatherings, events 

Doctors Victor Leung and Amy Tan, speaking on behalf of the groups, were critical of the decision to lift capacity limits on indoor events, like the upcoming Canucks home opener. Even with proof of vaccine required for entry, and masking requirements, they say it’s too soon to resume these activities.

“We’re not decreasing our numbers, and those under 12 are not able to be vaccinated. So they’re still the ones who are able to spread it

“We’re running at the highest capacity as a health care system, and we need to actually see that decrease before we actually create the atmosphere or the environment to actually have high-risk COVID-super spreading events. How many people go to a hockey game and don’t eat, drink, cheer and hoot and holler? because I’m pretty sure they’re not going to be quiet. Just breathing causes spread.”

@Protect_BC reports stronger measures are needed to stop #COVID19 transmission, so lifting event capacity limits next week could backfire.@AmyTanMD tells @CityNewsVAN un-vaccinated children with the virus could easily turn a @Canucks game into a super spreader event.#bcpoli

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) October 21, 2021

Leung agrees, saying it’s not a move he supports.

“I wouldn’t personally support large groups getting together in hockey games like this at 100 per cent capacity –given that we’re still seeing high numbers of individuals in the North being hospitalized.”

Instead, they say the province needs to bring in stronger measures, including widespread rapid testing. Better ventilation in public spaces, and the widespread use of stronger masks, like N95s.

The worry, according to Tan, is that if larger events cause an increase in new cases and hospitalizations, harsher restrictions will follow. She uses the lifting of the province-wide mask mandate in July as an example.

“Five weeks later, Kelowna had to have restrictions. By doing this a little bit longer and actually waiting for a downturn, we’re actually going to be setting ourselves up for more success rather than this roller coaster which I think actually has a lot of mental health impacts.”

.@adriandix has not ruled out re-introducing capacity limits for crowd-attracting events if new case numbers keep going up.

He says that’s why restrictions are still in place for parts of the province where vaccination rates are not high enough.#bcpoli #COVID19 @CityNewsVAN

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) October 21, 2021

Health Minister Adrian Dix says — while he respects the group’s right to voice a differing opinion — he supports Henry’s decision. Capacity limits do remain in higher-transmission areas with lower rates of vaccinatoin, like parts of Northern Health and the Eastern Fraser Valley.