Thread by @brish_ti

#BREAKING: Starting midnight tonight until Jan. 18, new BC PHO orders:

- Closing bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness centres, and dance studios;
- Cancelling all organized indoor gatherings of any size
- Max. 6 per table at restaurants, cafes

@CapitalDailyVic #covid19bc #bcpoli

@CapitalDailyVic (Cont’d)

- Capacity reduced to 50% at all seated indoor venues regardless of size; this includes theatres, movie theatres, concerts, sports venues, etc.

These measures will be instated in addition to the PHO orders that kicked in on Monday.

https://twitter.com/brish_ti/status/1471949471990779904?s=20

New measures announced due to data that came to light over the weekend re: how transmissible omicron is even among vaxxed + potential to overwhelm hospitals.

Cases increasing among all age groups, but mostly in 19-59yr olds (i.e. working age people)

#COVID19BC #bcpoli

BC now has its own Rt for omicron: 2.07 (i.e. one infected person passes it to ~2 others).

With both omicron and delta, Rt is ~1.58 across BC. Fuelled by high transmission rates in Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions, but Rt is above 1 in every health authority.

#NEW: BC won't be changing most of their Rapid Test distribution plan until they get more tests. Majority won't arrive until mid January 2022.

Exact timeline is unclear but RATs will only be given to those who are symptomatic, at specific sites.

@CapitalDailyVic #COVID19BC

By mid-January, BC will have an inventory of 11M rapid tests. Out of these:

- 7M reserved for public health for case management
- 3M for LTCs, healthcare workers, FNs etc.
- 500K for K-12 students and staff
- 500K for symptomatic post-secondary staff/students/employees

#bcpoli

#NEW: No plans to speed up booster shot program until mid-January.

Current plan says community healthcare workers are prioritized for boosters; yet we know many pharmacists, nurses, etc. won't get their 3rd shot til 7-8 months after they got second dose.

capitaldaily.ca/news/vancouver…