No new restrictions for B.C. in face of Omicron but small holiday gatherings recommended

It feels like deja vu all over again with B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry recommending small gatherings this holiday season due to COVID-19.

Dr. Bonnie Henry addressed concerns surrounding a possible post-holiday increase in COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, after the province announced 44 cases of the fast-spreading Omicron variant have been found in recent days and bleak new modelling.

Of the new cases, 37 were among those who have been vaccinated but there have been no hospitalizations linked to the variant. 20 of those cases were linked to international travel.

B.C.’s first case of the new variant was discovered Nov. 30, and already there are some dire predictions that it could significantly increase the number of ill people in just a month.

In the worst-case scenario, if Omicron spreads quickly and there is “immune evasion with the same severity as Delta,” the province could see 2,000 new infections per day by Dec. 26. However, the best-case scenario means over 1,000 daily cases by early January, according to new modelling detailed on Tuesday.

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Henry did not suggest new restrictions would be brought in but also urged British Columbians not to abandon or loosen current COVID-19 safety measures — like keeping gatherings small and limited to people who have been vaccinated, following the order mandating masks indoors, and going to places like restaurants where vaccine cards are checked.

“We should not be having large parties where we’re coming together indoors, particularly with people we don’t know, where we don’t know their vaccination status. That’s where this virus is taking hold and spreading rapidly. And we know that that’s going to be even more of a risk with Omicron. As we go into this holiday period, I’m asking people to rethink those situations,” she said.

Some provinces have introduced new measures because of Omicron, including P.E.I, which is limiting gatherings and travel in and other of the province, and Quebec, which is asking employers to have employees work from home.

Alberta’s COVID news:

– Boosters now open to those 50+ and HC workers
– Each Albertan eligible for 5 free rapid tests (while supplies last)
– Gathering limits still 10, but no cap on households or children
– Unvaccinated people now allowed to gather#Yeg #Yyc #ableg #covid19ab

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) December 15, 2021

After a major push for British Columbians to have access to free at home tests, the province did say it would be rolling out rapid tests, but not until January.

Henry said the inaccuracy of the rapid tests can make people feel safe when they may be infected.

“If you’re vaccinated, your risk of shedding the virus in enough amount that it can be detected by the rapid test is not very high. So, your positive predictive value is very low. It means that there’s false positives and false negatives, but particularly false negatives in vaccinated people,” Henry said when questioned about the lack of accessibility to take home kits.