Thread by @LizaYuzda

Dr Henny starting presser with surprise sildes about who is at risk of covid now with Omicron - by way of laying out who needs to be tested.
Decrease in slow down in new cases & slowing in hosp admissions but still high compared to rest of pandemic.
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Dr Henry: Looked at 606 ppl of 49000 cases
Dec 14 - Jan 6. Overall 1.2% hospitalized.
Risks:28x more likely if 80+ (major increase after 70)
CEV, pregnancy.
Vax reduces hosp risk by 9X she says
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(Would post the slides if I had them but government didn't send them ahead to us)
Basically this all seems to be laying out data supporting changes being made to testing criteria - narrowing the criteria at least in some regions/testing sites
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Dr Henry - with what learning about who is getting the virus and who is at risk from it, most won't need testing. And even though the test positivity rate is high she says most people are not testing positive for covid.
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Dr Henry: need to shift our management to prevent infection -> testing those eligible for treatment or those working in high risk situations. This is what we've been working toward in the last few weeks
"We have to change our way of thinking."
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Dr Henry: people need to assess everyday - if you are not feeling well you need to stay home until you feel better.
Because of the level of transmission you need to presume you've had contact with someone who has Omicron.
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Dr Henry: unlike Measles or hepatitis, or even previous covid variants the longer incubation period meant there was the ability to contact trace to prevent spread or provide treatment. This is no longer possible with this variant
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Dr Henry: Rule of thumb if not feeling well stay home until you are feeling better. Particularly if you have a fever stay home, stay away from others.
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This from VCH lays out who will be eligible for tests now. you need to have symptoms and
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Dr Henry: Why shorter isolation for vax vs unvaxxed? Have seen that those who are vaccinated clear virus faster. Can shed up to ten days but goes down dramatically day 3 - 5.
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Dr Henry: have seen increases in outbreaks in long term and assisted living. There are changes in how to support these settings as well - the balance between restrictions and having social contact.
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Dr Henry: we are "all in the same storm but in different boats" she says acknowledging the challenges in this time of change.
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Q - why are you going an endemic path now
Dr Henry: That's not what's happening. Clearly not in a place where it's endemic. With shorter incubation period, this surprised us, this virus continues to be persistent & cause different patterns of illness
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Dr Henry cont -- needed to look at who is most at risk and how do we protect our health care system. How do we manage with the reality of this virus. One of the things that has changed is the level of exposure we've had across the board.
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Q changes here are different than others - what data here makes our policy different than others
Dr Henry - symptoms can last longer than 10 days & can transmist but risk goes down after 5-6 days. cont
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cont with reality of how many ppl are sick - mitigate risk of causing more harm by health care workers not being at work when fully vaxxed with short mild illness.
Is consistency across much of country but some like PEI dealing with 1st harsh wave
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Q - errors posting covid rules on @CDCofBC
Dr Henry: moving targets as learning more - was a mistake. challenge was changed it without letting people know that it was a mistake to be posted in the first place. Takes responsibilty.
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Q -is it mild or no?
Dr Henry: Do not subscribe to narrative that omicron is mild. For some it is very serious and we all have a responsibility to minimize/mitigate that risk. It has show to be less severe in ppl who are fully vaccinated.
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Q re new policy allowing some ppl with covid to be in room with others
Dr Henry: Looking at how many ppl are testing positive on admission when there for other reasons & don't have respiratory illness. Decisions being made case by case
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Here's a look at the charts referenced at the start of the presser regarding risk data.
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Q what about people who've used up some or all of their five paid sick days
@adriandix hear some making the case for more needed - that is a valid point - five is a good starts.
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Q - why not do vax clinics in schools where update has been v low? (asked about a specific school - I didn't hear it)
Dr Henry - it is happening in some situationsmade on school by school basis with local medical health officer
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Q sounds like you are preparing BCers to live with covid over the long term - sounds bleak
Dr Henry - don't think this is how we will live with it in the long term but what is needed to get through this now. Vaccination makes biggest difference
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@CityNewsVAN Dr Henry - reality is people who's immune systems aren't as strong are going to remain most at risk as is the case with other illnesses. But it may be that risk group may need addl booster where rest of us may not.
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Dr Henry cont: expect because of this wave we will have an easier summer than the two before *but* then will have to prepare for the next respiratory season in the fall/winter and what will come again then.
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