LIVE: Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix provide their weekly update on COVID-19 in the province. #covid19bctwitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…
Dix: B.C. will hold COVID-19 briefings on Dec. 21 and Dec. 29.
Dr. Henry: I did want to pause and acknowledge that we have lost a record number of our community members to the toxic drug crisis in B.C. in October. We mourn their loss.
Health Minister Adrian Dix: We are seeing additional cases - more than 500 cases yesterday - and some increase in outbreaks. Not qualitatively the same as they were from Nov-February in long-term care, but nonetheless, they are concerning.
BREAKING: B.C. will mandate vaccines for all those working in long-term care and assisted living, says Health Minister Adrian Dix. #COVID19BC
Dr. Bonnie Henry: Data shows less than 5% of COVID-19 cases in B.C. right now are among people who are fully vaccinated. 78% of cases are people who are not vaccinated + 18% of cases are one dose.
DBH: Each health authority will be offering new ways to deliver vaccines. This effort is critical for step 4 because more people are travelling to B.C. Dancing, fall fairs, unrestricted weddings will be possible if this plan is followed.
Horgan begins the press conference first to speak about the "senseless North Shore violence... I cannot express my sorrow for the people involved."
Now onto COVID-19: Premier Horgan says there have been a number of challenges: cases are "unacceptably high.” Percentage of positive tests up about 50 per cent in some regions. Ages 20-39 ARE putting the rest of us at risk “do not blow this for the rest of us” #COVID19BC