Number of B.C. health care workers off sick rising, province bracing for COVID in the fall

The third summer of COVID-19 in B.C. isn’t giving health care workers any breaks.

“COVID 19 pandemic is still with us,” emphasizes Health Minister Adrian Dix, who says while hospitalizations are decreasing, the number of health care workers off sick is going in the opposite direction.

“About five weeks ago, we had about 15,000 people off sick. This past week, it was 16,400 … In the way that we test, that is a way to measure apples to apples.”

Testing in B.C. is virtually non-existent outside of at-home rapid tests.

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“We have a high level of sickness — 16,400 last week is going to put some pressure on the system,” Dix said, noting workers are not taking any time off.

“Our teams, let’s face it: They’re tired. You can talk to anybody who works in health care. They’re tired, but I think we’re also delivering exceptional services around the province to people and we’re doing absolutely everything we can.”

Dix says the province is preparing for things to get worse in the fall, when respiratory season will be in full swing.

“That, of course, includes potentially the development of newer vaccines that provide more protection against newer variants of COVID-19.”

When asked whether B.C. is considering bringing back public health restrictions such as mandatory masks in some places, Dix said “no option is ever excluded.”

“We are planning for what we were going to face in the fall, but we don’t know what we’re going to face in the fall.”

Read more: Only certain populations currently eligible for fourth COVID-19 dose, says Adrian Dix

He is urging the 1.3 million British Columbians who are eligible for third doses and have not received them to get them now.

“If you’re eligible for fourth dose, get your fourth dose today. [If you haven’t received a] second dose for some reason, get your second dose today. And if for some reason after all of this, you haven’t got your first, get your first dose today because this is serious business.”