B.C. adding COVID-19 restrictions as booster rollout, rapid testing accelerates

The province is taking some giant leaps back in its fight against COVID-19 just days before the holidays. A growing concern that the COVID-19 Omicron variant could overwhelm hospitals has resulted in new provincial health orders, an accelerated booster rollout, and additional distribution of rapid tests.

Since the province added other COVID-19 restrictions Friday, health officials said they’ve monitored the spread of the Omicron variant in B.C.

They’ve noticed that this strain is more transmissible than the Delta variant and is spreading rapidly.

The provincial health officials say they need more time to learn more about the variant.

So far, there are also signs of potential for these infections to impact hospitals and reinfect people who previously contacted COVID-19 and even fully vaccinated people.

“We have seen an increase in hospitalization in places like the UK that are ahead of us in terms of transmission of Omicron. And more recently and closer to home we’ve seen this as well in Quebec — which is very concerning. We are seeing the replacement .. of Omicron from Delta, and we’re also seeing what we call ‘explosive outbreaks,’ which have to do with larger numbers of people being exposed at the same time, but also a shortening of the incubation period that we’re seeing. So the transmission between generations is shorter and we’ve seen that around the world as well,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday.

There’s been a spike in COVID-19 cases in people ages 18 to 35 years old in the province.

New public health measures are in effect Wednesday, Dec 22 at 11:59 p.m. until the end of the day Tuesday, Jan. 18:

No indoor organized gatherings of any size (Eg. weddings, receptions, celebratory events),

• Bars and nightclubs closed,
• Gyms and fitness centres closed, dance studios closed and sports tournaments are cancelled,
• Seated events reduced to 50 per cent capacity( Eg. concerts, sports games, theatres, movie theatres etc.). This is regardless of venue size with vaccination checking, masking.
• Maximum six people can sit at each table in a restaurant, pub, cafe, etc. Customers must be physically distant, or there must be a barrier.

(Courtesy Government of BC)

Henry admits the added restrictions is “disappointing and discouraging” especially being so far into the pandemic.

“People in B.C. have stepped up we’ve done the right thing over and over. We’ve gotten vaccinated in record numbers. We’ve supported each other to get booster doses to have small gatherings to do the right thing. But the challenge that we have is this virus doesn’t recognize that. It has changed and so must we,” she said.

“The consequences of not slowing things down of not taking these actions are just too dire. We need to protect our health care system for everybody who needs care.”

Booster campaign accelerating

While the immunization rollout will continue to be based on risk, the province will be accelerating the process.

The booster program was initially expected to be complete by the end of April but with the program speeding up, it should be complete by the end of March.

The province will do this by increasing pharmacy capacity through January and by expanding the amount of clinics in the health authorities.

(Courtesy Government of BC)

Rapid testing enhances

A significant number of rapid tests are expected to be available by mid to late January of up to 11-million. So the province will be expanding its rapid testing.

About seven million will be reserved for public health and health authorities to help manage community transmission and protect the clinically extremely vulnerable and population over 70 years old.

To support in-person learning, 500,000 tests for students and staff will be reserved. Another 500,000 will be given to symptomatic students, faculty in post-secondary schools.

Another 3,0000 will be added to the supply for Long Term Care, health care workers, rural, remote and Indigenous communities, businesses and organizations, and case/contact management.

On New Year’s Day, 200,000 Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests (nasal swab kits) are expected to arrive. And according to the province, it’s purchased 500,000 BTNX Rapid Response Tests should arrive later this month. Out of the 84-million tests the country will receive sometime at the end near the end of January — about 10 million are expected to be for “at home” use.

The province speeding up distribution of rapid tests – including RAT testing locations and increasing and administration of booster shots including reopening large space clinics.#bcpoli #covid19 @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/wZwrxT89LZ

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) December 21, 2021

“I want to really emphasize rapid antigen testing, the point of care testings that we have, these are red lights not green lights. So having a negative test does not mean that you don’t have to pay attention to the gathering limits, to the different measures that we have in place,” Henry explained.

“So it doesn’t mean you can have a larger gathering, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to wear your mask. The important thing about point of care tests and the PCR testing is that if they’re positive, it tells you that you cannot do those things. It is a red light not a green light. And it is important that these are used for people who have symptoms to help understand what is causing their symptoms where that will make a difference.”

Over the weekend and into Monday, photos on social media circulated of massive line-ups at COVID-19 testing sites throughout Metro Vancouver.

The Health Ministry admitted there were hours-long delays in both Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health over the weekend and this prompted the province to ask people to avoid going to them if they don’t have any COVID-19 symptoms.

“We have a lot of people who are lining up for some of our tests that just have an understanding of whether they have COVID right now, and that is not where these rapid tests are helpful and it is leading to long lines in our PCR testing which we absolutely need to support us being able to understand people who have COVID-19,” Henry added.

Non-urgent surgeries postponed 

Meanwhile, starting Jan. 4, non-urgent scheduled surgeries will be postponed to manage the pressures on hospitals and key staff.

“From our experience in March and April and May of 2020, [this] means that approximately in the range of 3.,000 to 3,500 less surgeries a week [will] allow our hospital staff to prepare for to and to and to treat and support and help COVID-19 patients who will be coming to hospital in larger numbers and as well to support other activities, including immunization,” Health Minister Adian Dix said during Tuesday’s press conference.

surgeries will be rescheduled “through a monitoring of capacity and the COVID-19 impacts throughout January and on a regional basis,” Dix explained.