Pandemic Planning COVID-19 Update

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 25, 2022

As we approach the two year anniversary of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in BC, we continue to see high levels of hospitalization. Provincially, nearly 1,000 people are in hospital (110 in Island Health) as the Omicronjan25-1.png variant continues to surge, but Dr. Henry says community spread is on a downward trend, as evidenced by a gradual decline in daily cases and test positivity.

There were several announcements in today’s update worth highlighting:

  • NACI has updated their language around 5-11 age group vaccines from “may be offered” to “recommended,”  due to the rising number of children being hospitalized or falling ill. If you have children who haven’t received their dose 1, please book today. There are spots available in all communities.
  • The province is extending the vaccine card program to access non-essential indoor spaces, including restaurants, bars and gyms, until June 30, 2022.
  • Youth sports tournaments are able to resume next week. Adult sports tournaments remain paused.
  • New public health guidance has been added to the BCCDC website to support post-secondary institutions with in-person learning.
  • Later this week the BCCDC will be posting some clarifications to child care guidance, following consultation with child care providers.
  • Coming soon: there will be updated guidance on outbreak management in long-term care, which will address visitation during outbreaks. Dr. Henry says the high rate of vaccination and boosters for residents and staff has resulted in lower rates of severe illness and death. “We are working very closely with long-term care homes to make sure we can continue to have designated visitors for every resident who has one and make sure we have those all-important visits continuing even when we have some cases of COVID-19.”

ID NOW™ Rapid Testing for DIRECT care PROVIDERS

Island Health test sites are now equipped with ID NOW™ COVID-19 rapid tests, which will ensure health-care workers who provide direct care and have a shift within 24-hours can get tested and receive results quickly. ID NOW delivers high-quality molecular COVID-19 positive results in as little as 15 minutes. This provides staff with a result quickly that they can have confidence in.

If you provide direct care, are feeling mild symptoms that may be COVID-19, AND have a shift within 24-hours, you will qualify for an ID NOW™ rapid test. Call our priority call line at 1-833-737-9377, 8am-4pm daily, to book your appointment at any local site. (NOTE: Port Alberni and Qualicum sites will be rolling out ID NOW™ testing in the days ahead).

A reminder that rapid antigen point of care testing is also available for staff who become symptomatic at work or are scheduled to work imminently. Read more here.

PAY PARKING RESUMES IN MARCH

The Ministry of Health has announced the resumption of pay parking at health facilities on March 4th. Island Health staff with permits will see payroll deductions resuming March 4th. Staff with existing permits can continue to use those permits and do not need to reapply. Physicians will be receiving their permit renewal notices in the mail over the coming weeks. If you are new to Island Health, you can find information on the Parking Services intranet site. Alternate commuter options are also available, including transit passes, carpool options and cycling facilities.

SITE-BASED CLINICS OFFER DROP-IN BOOSTERS

Occupational Health and Safety are providing drop-in COVID booster vaccines for Island Health staff and medical staff. Find the schedule here. There are also many appointments available at community sites for those who don’t have access to on-site clinics. Please note: Booster dose walk-ins are not accepted in community clinics, so book before you go: www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca.

If you haven’t yet identified as a health-care worker with ImmunizeBC, first make sure you’re registered in the www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca system, then self-identify as a health-care worker using this link [www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca/s/d3-target-self-identification] and access code: Y6383E!. Read more about the process and troubleshooting.

IMMUNIZATION UPDATE

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PROVINCIAL UPDATE (Today)

  • 1,446 people have newly-confirmed COVID-19 for a total of 314,522
  • 1 new death, for a total of 2,554 COVID-19 related deaths in B.C.
  • 32,468 people with active COVID-19 in B.C. – 985 in hospital, 144 in ICU/HAU
  • See new and stats and data on the BCCDC COVID-19 dashboard

Read today’s statement and transcript.

ISLAND HEALTH UPDATE (Today):

  • 193 people have newly-PCR-confirmed COVID-19, for a total of 26,311*
  • ^5 new deaths since Jan 20, for a total of 167 COVID-19 related deaths in Island Health
  • 1,501 people with active COVID-19 in Island Health:
    • 672 South Island, 565 Central Island, 264 North Island
  • 83 COVID-19 patients in hospital, plus 32 recovered (13 in ICU/HAU, plus 8 recovered)
  • Current hospitalizations not fully vaccinated Non-Critical 57%, Critical Care 81%
  • Current outbreaks: 21 LTC/AL sites and 1 acute care site (see list here)

* Demographics and exposure information may only represent high priority cases.

^These deaths will be reflected in provincial reporting tomorrow

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

Testing

Changes

Administering Vaccines (Working in Immunization Clinics)

COVID-19 Vaccines FAQs (Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Resources)

  • COVID-19 Vaccination Clinical Guidance Section 1.1 (What if a client presents without an appointment?) has been updated to state: “Information about booster doses for Long-Term Care/Assisted Living/Seniors’ Independent Living staff at least 8 weeks after completion of primary series.”

Outbreak Response

PPE Ordering

  • Supplemental PPE Ordering Guide Ordering information on non-medical-grade masks has been removed from the document, as they are not currently being distributed to any areas.

Screen Assess and Prioritize

Testing

  • The following items related to the Long-Term Care Unvaccinated Staff Point of Care Testing program have been archived and replaced with the BCCDC Rapid COVID-19 Point of Care Screening Program resource (linked above), as  per provincial guidance:
    • COVID-19 Point of Care Testing: Results Logbook
    • POCT COVID-19 Training Session Q & A
    • POCT – COVID-19: Unvaccinated Staff in Long-Term Care, Seniors’ Assisted Living and Tertiary Residential
    • POCT – COVID-19: Test Results Instructions for Staff Working in Long-Term Care, Seniors’ Assisted Living and Tertiary Residential
    • POCT – COVID-19: Staff Screening Workflow in Long-Term Care, Seniors' Assisted Living & Tertiary
    • POCT – COVID-19: Owned/Operated Long-Term Care Key Information
    • POCT – COVID-19: Contracted Long-Term Care/Seniors' Assisted Living Facilities Key Information
    • POCT – COVID-19: Manual Stock Requisition Order Form for Use by: Health Authorities
    • POCT – COVID-19: Manual Stock Requisition Order Form for Use by: Contracted and Fully Private Long-Term Care & Assisted Living Facilities
    • POCT: COVID-19: Vaccination Status Information and Preventive Measures Order – August 20, 2021

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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