SENT TO ALL STAFF, MEDICAL STAFF, STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS ON BEHALF OF
MARKO PELJHAN, VP, PANDEMIC PLANNING, AND DR. MURRAY FYFE, INTERIM CHIEF MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER AND VP, POPULATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FEBRUARY 11, 2022
This week Island Health surpassed a significant and tragic milestone – 201 people have died of COVID-19 in our health region. Of these 201 deaths, over 160 occurred in just the last six months.
We share our condolences with the loved ones, families, communities and care providers of people who died. Having so much tragic loss, in such a short period of time, has and will continue to impact our care teams for years to come – if not for the rest of their careers.
We also recognize the tireless efforts of the teams in long-term care and acute care across Island Health, who continue to work to contain outbreaks of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Our data shows our pandemic curve is heading in the right direction. We’ve had a steady decline in our 7 day rolling
average of new cases, from a high of 455 on January 10, to 175 today.
Dr. Henry has indicated we’ll learn more on Tuesday about changes to public health restrictions, and federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says Canada is reviewing its pandemic-related border restrictions and will likely announce changes next week.
The B.C. government will no longer provide daily updates on active case numbers or how many people have discontinued isolation. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says those numbers are no longer an accurate reflection of what’s happening in the community.
A reminder that our next staff and medical staff town hall is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15th. Watch for an email Tuesday morning with dial in information and a link to the sli.do for your questions. You can read the questions and answers from our February 1st town hall here.
Starting next week this COVID-19 update will be distributed once a week, in alignment with the weekly update from Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. Additional updates will be provided as needed.
PHARMACIES SUPPORT IMMUNIZATION
We now have 172 pharmacies within Island Health who have stepped up to help with COVID-19 immunizations, making vaccination more convenient than ever. The list of available pharmacies will be visible on the appointment-booking website when people respond to their booking invitation. Appointments are required, and pharmacies do not provide pediatric vaccinations.
For Kristen Azcarraga, owner of the Departure Bay Rd. Medicine Shoppe in Nanaimo, it’s a way of stepping up. “I wanted to lessen the burden on our health-care system and
help to get everyone vaccinated as quickly as possible,” she said.
ALL ABOUT MASKING
Mask use indoors has become a common practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, but information in the public is causing some confusion. Everyone entering a health care setting, such as a hospital, community clinic or long-term care facility, is required to wear a medical grade mask, to protect health-care workers, visitors, and patients who are at high risk from the spread of infectious diseases. All staff and medical staff working within two meters of a patient must also wear eye protection. Double masking is discouraged by the BCCDC, and modifying a medical grade mask for a better fit could damage the mask.
Read more for IPC advice on proper masking at work and in the community.
IMMUNIZATION UPDATE
island health STATS & TRENDS
- Hospitalizations: 156 total (141 medicine – 15 critical care – including 89 recovered)
- Non-critical: 29% with 0-1 dose – 70% with 2-3 doses
- Critical: 60 with 0-1 dose – 40% with 2-3 doses
- Current age range: 9-102 – Average age: 70
- Deaths: 4 new (since Feb 9) – 201 total COVID-19 related deaths
- Lab positive PCR trend: Daily average for past 7 days: 175 new cases (9% decrease)
- Current outbreaks: 20 LTC/AL sites and 1 acute care site (see list here)
- Read the provincial daily statement
- Find local and BC-wide statistics, including case counts, on BCCDC’s Data Webpage
COVID-19 Intranet Pages:
Since our last update, the following resources have either been added to, or revised and republished on, the COVID-19 Intranet pages.
New
Screening and Consent (Working in Immunization Clinics)
Changes
Administering Vaccines (Working in Immunization Clinics)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Products & Intended Age Group The following sections have been updated:
- References to “Minimum age: turning 18 in the calendar year” have been updated to “18+ years old”
- References to “Minimum age: turning 12 in the calendar year” have been updated to “12+ years old”
COVID-19 Vaccines FAQs (Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Resources)
- COVID-19 Vaccination Clinical Guidance has been updated as follows:
- 1.1 What if a client presents without an appointment?
- 1.4 What is the difference between a third dose and a booster dose?
- 1.9 How soon after COVID-19 infection can/should someone receive a COVID-19 vaccine?
External
- Check out what is New Today on the BCCDC website.
Have a question or concern about COVID-19? Email pandemic@islandhealth.ca.
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