SENT TO ALL STAFF, MEDICAL STAFF, STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS ON BEHALF OF
MARKO PELJHAN, VP, PANDEMIC PLANNING, AND DR. MURRAY FYFE, INTERIM VP POPULATION & PUBLIC HEALTH AND CHIEF MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICER
FEBRUARY 9, 2022
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says restrictions will begin to be lifted when the gatherings and events order expires on February 16th. Next week, we’ll hear "less about the pandemic and more about how we manage our personal risk as restrictions are adjusted," Dr. Henry says. “We’re all tired…We want it to end - but wanting it to end and taking the right measures to get us through this are two different things. Changes made will continue to be based on science and circumstances of our pandemic here in BC.”
She also announced that bars and nightclubs who change their business model to begin serving meals from external sources, such as catering companies, will be allowed to reopen. Dr. Henry also says surveillance reports are going to change, including the removal of active cases data, since active case numbers are no longer accurate due to the limited testing in the province.
Dr. Henry provided an update on vaccination requirements for health professionals, expanding the vaccine mandate for health-care workers to include dentists, chiropractors and other health practitioners regulated by BC's health-care colleges. The vaccination deadline under the new order is March 24 for all health-care practitioners who were not covered by the initial order October 26th, which included all staff and medical staff in hospitals and long term care. The new vaccine mandate is set to be rolled out in a phased manner and there will also be opportunities for those under the mandate to provide medical exemptions.
POINT OF CARE RISK ASSESSMENT AN IMPORTANT PRACTICE
The Point-of-Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) is an essential part of routine practice that should be conducted by health-care workers before each patient interaction. The BCCDC has updated the Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) guidance. You can review the reference document here.
A reminder that staff and medical staff who are required to wear an N95 as part of their duties must be fit tested on an annual basis. Fit-testing resources have been expanded for those who need it. Learn more about Fit testing here.
2021 MOST DEADLY YET FOR DRUG POISONING CRISIS
Last year there were 2,224 deaths caused by illicit drug poisoning in BC. This is by far the deadliest year since the public health emergency was declared in 2016. Since then, 9,020 British Columbians have been lost to poisoned street drugs.
Drug-poisoning deaths are the leading cause of unnatural death in BC and have contributed to an overall decrease in life expectancy in Canada. This is especially true for men, with the majority of deaths occurring among those aged 30-59. In Island Health, drug poisonings claimed the lives of 327 people in 2021. But numbers don’t tell the story – each one of these people is someone’s friend, family member and/or loved one.
While significant investments have been made across Vancouver Island, and British Columbia, in recent years today’s report reinforces the critical need to take continued action as we move forward. This public health emergency – declared nearly six years ago – tragically shows no sign of subsiding. Read more
IMMUNIZATION UPDATE
island health STATS & TRENDS
- Hospitalizations: 166 total (152 medicine – 14 critical care – including 76 recovered)
- Non-critical: 29% with 0-1 dose – 70% with 2-3 doses
- Critical: 64% with 0-1 dose – 35% with 2-3 doses
- Current age range: 9-102 – Average age: 70
- Deaths: 9 new (since Feb 4) – 197 total COVID-19 related deaths
- Lab positive PCR trend: Daily average for past 7 days: 176 new cases (18% decrease)
- Current outbreaks: 22 LTC/AL sites and 2 acute care sites (see list here)
- Read the provincial daily statement and transcript
- 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
Testing
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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