B.C.'s top doctor says her decisions throughout the pandemic have been based on the best information available, but haven't been mathematical certainties. Because of #Omicron's spread, new order today requiring all businesses on Canada's West Coast to have #COVID19 safety plans.
"This has been proven to work," Dr. Bonnie Henry tells reporters. This order doesn't apply to K-12, childcare or university and college settings. These plans will bring in barriers, keep people more separated and allow more employees to work from home, if possible. #BCpoli
B.C. will begin to #FreetheRATs starting next week to test symptomatic students and staff in the K-12 school system, Dr. Henry says. So far, tests deployed in remote and First Nations communities and higher-risk businesses. I.e. 100k given out to nursing and retirement homes.
As Ottawa sends more RATs, Dr. Henry says, everyday people will be able to get these at health authority testing sites. These should be seen as "red light" to stop someone from socializing and not a "green light" to allow you to go meet people, she adds. #BCpoli
"Not everybody needs a test," Dr. Henry says. Adding: If you have mild symptoms, stay home and isolate. Can leave your house and socialize again if it has been five days and you're feeling better. Background: theglobeandmail.com/canada/article… #COVID19
B.C.'s Education Minister @JM_Whiteside says transmission of the virus in schools has reflected what's happening in the community throughout the #COVID19 pandemic. Students will return Monday, but three-ply surgical masks will be given out free to those who need them. #BCEd
Communication with parents, however, will look much different than during previous waves, Whiteside says. Instead of individual exposures, schools will monitor attendance and alert public health if this dips so testing can begin. #BCed #BCpoli
Parents should report any positive RAT results to their local health authority and notify their school if their kid is home sick with #COVID19, Min. Whiteside says. She acknowledges there is a lot of anxiety among parents and that there will be bumps in this process. #BCpoli
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