SENT TO ALL STAFF, MEDICAL STAFF, STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS ON BEHALF OF
MARKO PELJHAN, VP, PANDEMIC PLANNING, AND DR. RICHARD STANWICK, VP POPULATION & PUBLIC HEALTH AND CHIEF MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER
JANUARY 28, 2022
Before we get into the Pandemic Update, I’d like to take the opportunity, on Dr. Richard Stanwick’s last day, to than
k him for leading our organization and all Island Health residents through the COVID-19 pandemic. His extensive public health expertise prepared him well for these historic years, and I know we’ve all looked to him as a trusted voice when things were shaky and unknown. He is a committed professional with a long, accomplished career and he is leaving an indelible public health legacy on our island communities. On a personal note, it was an honour to have joined Dr. Stanwick in co-leadership these past five months. On behalf of the entire Pandemic team, I offer Richard our deepest gratitude and best wishes. We all look forward to reading his very interesting book… should he ever decide to put pen to paper.
During today’s briefing, Dr. Bonnie Henry walked us through some key learnings of the past two years during the pandemic. From the initial public health restrictions and measures, many of which we still use today, through to record-breaking vaccine development, variants of concern and most recently surges in hospitalizations due to Omicron’s rapid spread, we’ve been through it all. See the slides from today’s briefing here. Two years ago today she and Minister Dix gave their first public briefing about COVID-19. Dr. Henry has taken her rise to fame, and for some notoriety, with grace and calm. Together, she and Minister Dix have been steady and dedicated to the work at hand, and continue to do so to this day.
Internally, we shared our first COVID-19 Update for staff and medical staff on March 16, 2020. Tonight’s edition is our 244th. On February 7, 2020 we held our very first Pandemic Town Hall and our 51st is coming up this Tuesday. We will continue to provide updates weekly in alignment with provincial briefings and when needed, and we look forward to Dr. Murray Fyfe formally joining us at the next Town Hall as the Acting Chief Medical Health Officer.
Point of Care Risk Assessment: Look before you leap
A Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) is one of the most important tools we have to decide what additional steps are needed to keep ourselves safe when performing a task or patient care. Before you complete any task, always familiarize yourself to ensure the work can be performed safely. Look at the task, the patient and the area to make sure you are safe, the patient is safe, and that you can safely return home after your shift.
The PCRA process doesn't need to take long. When going into a patient's room, look around - what has changed, are there any new precautions and does the patient look welcoming, do you see any tripping or slipping hazards. Many of these steps become intuitive and an experienced person completes them instinctively. Depending upon your training and experience, the depth of what you are assessing is most likely different. Read more.
NEXT TOWN HALL – FEBRUARY 1ST
The next Pandemic Town Hall for staff and medical staff will be held at noon on Tuesday, February 1. Dial-in information and the Slido link will be shared early Tuesday morning. We are all living through stressful times, but we ask all participants to please share questions and comments respectfully. Language that disrespects others to support a position does not align with Island Health values. FAQs from the last session are available online now.
ON-SITE DROP-IN BOOSTER CLINICS
Drop in to any OH&S on-site COVID booster vaccine clinics for Island Health staff and medical staff. Find the schedule here. Not near an on-site clinic? Book into your local community clinic via: www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca. Note: Drop-ins for boosters are not accepted in community clinics.
Have you identified as a health-care worker yet? Visit: www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca/s/d3-target-self-identification and enter access code: Y6383E!. Read more about the process and troubleshooting.
IMMUNIZATION UPDATE
STATS AND TRENDS
With rising case numbers, and in line with provincial guidance, effective December 26th, Island Health narrowed the collection of detailed case information to prioritized cases (health-care workers and those who work/live in settings at higher risk of transmission to vulnerable people). In addition, changes in testing guidelines for those with zero-mild symptoms further limits the value of relying on case counts as the most appropriate measure of COVID-19 activity in the province. Going forward, we will share the following information in our COVID-19 Updates to provide a better indication of where we stand today.
- Hospitalizations: 147 total (97 medicine – 11 critical care – 39 recovered)
- Non-critical: 55% with 0-1 dose – 45% with 2-3 doses
- Critical: 92% with 0-1 dose – 8% with 2-3 doses
- Current age range: 14-98 – Average age: 68
- Deaths: 3 new (since Jan 25) – 170 total COVID-19 related deaths
- Lab pos. PCR case trend: Daily avg. for past 7 days: 227 new cases (30% decrease)
- Current outbreaks: 19 LTC/AL sites and 4 acute care sites (see list here)
- Read the provincial daily statement and briefing transcript
- Find local and BC-wide statistics, including case counts, on BCCDC’s Data Webpage
Have a question or concern about COVID-19? Email pandemic@islandhealth.ca.
Follow us and retweet/share COVID safety messaging: Twitter • Facebook • Instagram