Thread by @akurjata

Happening now: B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, PHO Dr. Bonnie Henry and Northern Health CMO Dr. Jong Kim holding a press conference on COVID-19 in Northern B.C., where ICU cases are rising, fast. Background: cbc.ca/news/canada/br… #yxj #ydq #cityofPG

Dix: "The Northern Health is seeing a very significant [number] of cases." More than 100 new cases today, and positivity rate very high. "The vast majority of patients in Northern Health today are unvaccinated."

Dix: While some regions, such as Kitimat, have higher-than-average vaccination rates, the majority of Northern B.C. is far behind.

New measures are coming to slow transmission of COVID-19 in northern B.C.

Henry: Clusters and outbreaks at some industrial camps but those have been slowed. "Now, sadly, we're seeing some transmission taking off in communities where we have pockets of people who are unvaccinated" esp. in the last ten days where there is 6x increase in transmission

Areas of concern: Nechako region, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, primarily where people are gathering for social interactions. "As well, Prince George" seeing a high transmission and it is "stretching resources."

New COVID-19 control measures for Northern Health regoin:

New limits on personal gatherings.

Only one additoinal family or five guests in your home; Max 50 people outside your home with safety in place.

Outdoor events with more than 200 people need safety plans approved, same for sporting events indoor and outdoor.

Tranmission is NOT being seen in restaurants, gyms.

Rec sports and places of worship NOT impacted by new health measures.

Dr. Henry says she knows communities where there IS not high rates of tranmission will be frustrated by being impacted by this, but it is necessary to keep the Northern B.C. healthcare system safe.

All other province-wide rules, including indoor masking and implementation of vaccine certification, still apply to northern B.C. "This is really a supplement" to existing rules

Over 90 percent of ICU cases in Northern B.C. are unvaccinated people

New rules coming Sept. 7. Q: Why the delay? Dr. Henry - because people hae events planned and this gives them a chance to adjust.

Dr. Kim says about half the cases are from northern interior/Prince George, quarter are from northeast, rest in other regions.

However bear in mind that Prince George is about 25 percent of the Northern Health population so will be overrepresented

Sounds like the real area of concern for transmission rates are the Nechako/Fort St. James/Vanderhoof regions, west of Prince George

Dix says that since the province announced the vaccine card program last week, the greatest increase in people getting their first shot has occurred in Northern B.C., so thinks this part of the province will catch up to other regions in the coming weeks

Question to Dr. Henry - how do you respond to local chambres of commerce (Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Mackenzie, Tumbler Ridge) asking you to rescind vaccine card?

Henry: We will continue to work with them. Also, they wrote those letters before cases in their region jumped

Question: people were out protesting in northern B.C. yesterday. Do you need to be more blunt?

Henry: I prefer to appeal to people's better natures and explain why these measures are important

Anyways, they said uptick this week was higher than last. So we'll see. Right now this is looking like a bit of a slog.

https://twitter.com/akurjata/status/1433563454627991553

Here are the new rules for Northern Health #cityofPG