Thread by @LizaYuzda

BC #covid19 Apr 1
832 new-total 100880
5 death-1463 total
VCH(24230)+310
FH(57770)+388
Int(8545)+42
Island(3324)+53
North(6004)+39
Hosp/icu(301/80)296/79
Vaccine +31599 doses
(other data like active, variants coming in written statement)
#bcpoli @news1130

Dr Henry talking about vaccines approved/being used in Canada - including the one shot Janssen.
First dose primes, second boosts.
What learning in real world is that after single dose protections is upwards of 80% lasting for months
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

If vaccinated why do you wear mask still after vaccination? DBH - it takes ti,e
two types of immunity
1. antibodies can be measured in blood. we don't know how much is needed for protection. And some ppl with certain cancers don't produce as much
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

DBH learning that ppl in LTC and health care workers are welll protected after a single dose. Could be because the second immunity is active that is:
2. cell activations... these take longer, harder to measure in blood.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

People can still be infected with covid after vaccinated so we still need to be cautious. But even though people can catch the virus before full immunity they are not getting as severely ill.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Can you get vax if you've had allergic reaction to flu shot?
DBH says yes. Some ppl have allergy to PEG (polyethelyne something something) if so they should get astrazeneca not the mRNA one.s
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

The strategy of increasing distance between doses so more people can have 1st dose - so maximum people have protection starting with most vulnerable and working down.
2nd dose will be given when all eligible have their first. Likely before 4 months
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Some people don't develop the same level of immunity as others even after two doses this is why max population being vaccinated is vital. - DBH
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

How come we're not immuniztion people caring for someone elderly or those caring for immune compromised?
Have learned vaccines are effective at protecting ppl directly so want those people first protected first.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

DBH - it is not possible to vaccinated every care giver of elderly or vulnerable so must proceed with most vulnerable first then they are protected.
Again saying that first doses will all be done by June.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

FYI -- 20 minutes into what is supposed to be a press conference s no reporter has been able to ask a question.
But getting information tha thas been given before restated.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

There are a lot of reporters with looming deadlines having heart attacks right now.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Back to the lecture...
second doses of astrazeneca what will happen if the pause turns into a halt for people under 55 who've received it. That will be decided.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Until next week the front line worker vaccination program is on hold as Astrazeneca is paused for people under 55 - DBH says.
They will see what the review of AZ brings back and then see what's next.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

25 minutes in and the lecture continues.
Saying more fridge stable vaccines are coming.
(This is all so bizarre - as if the questions DBH is talking about that she's getting are more pressing than whatever questions reporters waiting have)
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

The comms people in Health really should arrange a facebook live or a radio/tv special for this kind of - now 30 mintue lecture.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

This long weekend is not the time to travel - DBH says.
Stay in the area where you would go for a day trip.
If you need to stay overnight away/rent a room away - don't go.
Go to a local hotel - get take out from a local restaurant.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

We are not at 30 minutes and now @adriandix talking.
I am timing him.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

As @adriandix says he just wants to note *the* *same* *information* *that* *we've* *already* heard from DBH (most of which was NOT news) - I want to note, again, that this is bananas.
#bcpoli @news1130 #COVID19

3:36 - reporters still holding
As @adriandix giving numbers that should be in a statement -- like the Variant number *that everyone wanted to hear NOW* are going to be.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Now @adriandix telling us everything he did yesterday about how awesome the province was pivoting astrazeneca doses to 55-64.
It's 3:38 pm.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

At 3:42 @adriandix says "finally" and he still hasn't done his french speil.
Telling us what we already know - that online booking starts on Tuesday April 6.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

"In closing" (it's 3:44) @adriandix with a long list of what today isn't about before saying it is about our unite to fight and stop the spread.
[Can we unite to ensure this doesn't happen again to what is supposed to be a PRESS conference?]
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Oh great -- @adriandix now reading off numbers in french. *NUMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE STATEMENT THAT WILL ALSO HAVE THE VARIANT NUMBERS WE WANT*
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

3:45 REPORTER QUESTIONS STARTING
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Q did prov ensure pharmacies didn't give preferential treatement to their customers with vaccines?
@adriandix made changes to program with AZ this week pharmacists stepped up **again telling us what we know about this program ages and why etc...**
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

So did the province get in the contract/agreement that pharmacies did not give preferential treatment to customers / staff?
@adriandix didn't answer
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Q @justine_hunter asking again... saying she's heard from ppl turned away because not regular customer? Does this need to be explicit there should not be preferential treatment?
@adriandix again not answering saying high demand low supply is the issue
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Q- variants (noting haven't seen numbers in two days) why are we not doing anything specifically to address this spread?
DBH-did report on variants (didn't)
90 new cases in last 2 days. 80 b117, 1 more P1351, 9 P1.
P1 mostly in VCH
#bcpoli @news1130 #COVID19

DBH- 90% of all positive are screened - that takes a day.
Whole genome of postives.
Same protections work but no room for error.
Says in Surrey it was the B117 transmission not in schools for the most part.
Was large VCH cluster now contained
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

DBH - Very small numbers of P1 have spread to other parts of the province from clusters in VCH and Whistler.
Saying have places to support people isolating away from home
Active variants right now192, 35 hospital with one of the variants.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

DBH - last bit of variants
19-50 is age of most variant cases
P1 is mostly 19-39 age group.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Q 65-72 being left out vaccines why?
DBH: different issues - moving down the age groups each year is large group of people. fewer moderna doses than expected last wk. Clinically vulnerable started. More coming - next week likely moving down to under 70.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

DBH - Asking for patience from first responders and other front line workers as Astrazeneca is being reviewed hoping back on track asap.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Q AB having ppl with variants quarantine longer in household
DBH a bit of nuance (10 day for positive person, then addl 14 days starts for those in contact). Ask those who can to isolate outside of home - help with that.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Q-to @adriandix: Premier came down on 20-39 year olds - Appears to be ppl who continue to travel despite rules - why isn't message getting through
DBH - the biggest challenge and those with least influence is young ppl. have a lot of empathy for them
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

.@adriandix telling those traveling, waiting for ferries it's not too late to do the right thing & follow safety protocols being asked of them
As for ages, he says median age of P1 variant is 28 & world wide seeing more young ppl hspitalized & in ICU
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Q-what's the take away from lower variantes in last few days
DBH - fewer variants in last few days though surveillance has ramped up too soon to tell what the take away is... but because of the B117 competitive advantave will take over eventually
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Q-with higher positivty should we have more testing?
DBH - doesn't see where they'd test more.
seeing higher % positive in places like the north because testing many contacts of cases
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

More younger in hospital? Proportion overall remains 5%-ish. But because seeing increase cases in younger ppl more in hosp their length of stay longer and more going into ICU -- overall 19% of all ages need ICU - variants about 1/3
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Q when will we know if circuit breaker is working?
DBH- numbers of contacts ppl are having where transmission more likely has gone up. There are 11000+ exposed, isolated. A portion of them will test positive. Will be rough ride for next while. ...con't
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

DBH - saying now is the time to stop the next cycle of the positive cases now.
That "we are in for a bumpy ride over the next few days" another warning to those going into the long weekend.
#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

Nobody asked but since I ranted...
I think there's a lot of value in the PHO answering #covid19 questions her office is getting from the public. Stations & publications would be happy devote air & space to this.
Media availabilities are not the time to do this.
#bcpoli @news1130