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| There's no change for residents west of Kitwanga, but in points east Midnight brings a range of new health measures to combat COVID (click to enlarge) |
The Delta variant is proving to be a fast transmit and with a still far too large number of Northerners still unvaccinated, today's moves are designed to slow COVID down and address issues in specific regions of the Health Authority, as well as to reduce the pressures being found for many health facilities.
As a result, Northern Health has announced that effective at midnight Thursday October 14, 2021 that the entire Northern Health region, (with the exception of Local Health areas west of Gitwangak (Kitwanga): Terrace, Kitimat, Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert, Stikine, Telegraph Creek, Snow Country and Nisga’a) will be under the following additional orders:
Personal gatherings, both indoor and outdoor, are restricted to fully vaccinated people, including at private residences and vacation accommodation Indoor gathering: up to 5 people are permitted
Outdoor gathering: up to 25 people are permitted
All indoor and outdoor organized events require a safety plan and for attendees to wear a mask and present their BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated
Indoor event: up to 50 people are permitted
Outdoor event: up to 100 people are permitted
Worship services: virtual services are required
Restaurants:
Fast-food restaurants and unlicensed cafés without table service can provide take-out only or require patrons to present the BC Vaccine card showing they are fully vaccinated.
Licensed establishments and those with table service must not serve alcohol between 10pm-9am and must require patrons to present the BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated.
Bars and nightclubs (no meal service) will be closed
Sport events spectators (indoor and outdoor) are limited to 50% capacity, must have a safety plan, and require attendees to wear masks and present their BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated
The measures will remain in place until November 19th and may be subject to extension if case counts remain high and vaccination rates continue to be low.
The urgency of the current situation was expressed by Northern Health President and CEO Kathy Ulrich
“We are under immense pressure in our facilities that is fueled by an unvaccinated population. We continue to encourage all people age 12 and up to get immunized.”
Chief Medical Health Officer for Northern Health, Dr. Jong Kim provided the review of the current status of the health care system in the north.
“Hospitals in Northern Health are overstretched as beds become filled with COVID-19 patients, primarily unvaccinated. People needing critical care are being transferred to other regions of the province. Everyone needs to get immunized to help keep our hospitals open for treating people with other illnesses. Until more people make the choice to get vaccinated, we need to ensure we have orders in place to protect the most vulnerable and limit the spread."
The full information release as well as where vaccination clinics are taking place can be reviewed here.
Information related to the new measures is also available through the Northern Health Facebook page.
As we noted yesterday, the most recent COVID Data for local communities from the BC CDC highlighted the concerns related to the current situation, with many communities from the Bulkley Valley east facing concerning levels of COVID.
The most recent notes also showing a rising tide in the Prince Rupert area, which recorded fifteen cases in the most recent report, that an increase of ten from one week ago.
Should the Northwest wish to avoid the introduction of the same measures now in place in points east, a commitment to current health requirements and a continued increase for the vaccination rate would make for the most beneficial approach for local residents.
More notes on Northern Health can be explored from our archive page here.
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