Depressing news of our amazing colleagues @dustbobgod, @MarcoWearsPolos, and @kaijajussinoja being laid off. A crappy day in local journalism.

We're passing around the metaphorical hat to collect drink $$ for them. DM if you'd like to pitch in! @dustbobgod @MarcoWearsPolos @kaijajussinoja Thread of their announcements. Follow them, support them!!

@kaijajussinoja former reporter at @TwitCoast:

https://twitter.com/kaijajussinoja/status/1599889488389423104?s=20&t=2ULHW2dorgRS1zX6sOdjLw

BC health ministry presser happening now.
Dr. Henry says there's a spike in serious influenza cases among children, reflected in absenteeism in schools.
Calls for parents to get kids vaccinated against the flu, as the best protection available.

@CapitalDailyVic #bcpoli @CapitalDailyVic Re: upcoming holiday season: "Now is the time to plan so that you can have a safe and joyful holiday together with friends and family and loved ones."

DBH says to get vaccinated, stay home if sick especially if fever, washing hands, wear mask if you have mild symptoms.

#NEW: Independent review of BC's COVID-19 response highlights several points that need improvement including pandemic planning, health data collection, and very clearly, transparency and an explanation for public health decisions.

#COVID19BC @CapitalDailyVic @CapitalDailyVic I'm still going through the 150-page report, and will tweet updates from the press conference with Mike Farnworth in this thread.

Full report: www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/pub…

#bcpoli

#NEW: Remember those charts BC shared today, showing which illness is causing how many hospitalizations?

One pediatric heart surgeon says not everyone with respiratory illness is tested at the hospital to determine what they have.

@CapitalDailyVic

capitaldaily.ca/news/kids-surg… @CapitalDailyVic I asked @CDCofBC and health ministry the same question: Are all patients who go to the hospital with respiratory illness tested for COVID-19 and how is it determined how many people have which type of illness (RSV/flu/covid)?

They're still working on a response. #bcpoli

#Thread: @adriandix and PHO Bonnie Henry starting their presser

Dix: Need to "wear a mask if we have mild symptoms & considering wearing a mask in indoor public spaces...most importantly staying home when we're sick and...washing our hands frequently with soap & water. @adriandix DBH: "The three main viruses we need to pay attention to...are now COVID-19...influenza and RSV"

Says ~51% of eligible children have had their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

About 90% of BCians have some immunity from COVID-19 through vax and prior infection.

@CapitalDailyVic

#NEW: BC has come up with a new payment model option for family physicians, starting Feb 1, 2023. If they opt-in, FTE family docs can make gross $385k/year (compared to current $250k).

Details will first be conveyed to docs, but broad strokes:

@CapitalDailyVic #bcpoli @CapitalDailyVic Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh @DoctorsOfBC says new Physician Master Agreement will be going to a vote in the next few weeks.

"It is by far the best agreement negotiated for physicians in Canada this year and I believe that it's one of the best that has ever been negotiated here in BC."

#NEW: BC is preparing for a surge in COVID-19 and influenza-related hospitalizations expected starting mid-November.

They project 700 COVID patients needing hospitalization at a time (currently ~350), plus a peak of up to 1,200 influenza patients.

@CapitalDailyVic #covid19bc @CapitalDailyVic Steps being considered:

- Adding 1,500 hospital beds (to current 9,400 capacity)
-Moving patients to community and LTC care
- 'Bed management teams' at hospitals
-Worst case scenario: postponing surgeries

#bcpoli #covid19bc

#NEW: Omicron's newest subvariants are already here and spreading fast, with their ability to bypass antibodies from both vaccines and prior infection, says new data from BC + experts.

What it means for our healthcare system this summer:
#bcpoli capitaldaily.ca/news/summer-wa… “We are all incredibly worried that there will be more morbidity and mortality," said ER physician Dr. Jeff Unger.

Last week, Saanich Peninsula Hospital asked Island Health to shut down the ER overnight, to redirect staff to their busiest hours.

Island Health said no.

#NEW: Internal email shared with @CapitalDailyVic shows #yyj hospitals are too full to accept patients and are considering emergency steps like renting hotel rooms.

Healthcare workers say #COVID19 hospitalizations on the rise + surgeries being postponed

capitaldaily.ca/news/greater-v… @CapitalDailyVic “I am writing to let you all know that we are facing an extreme overcensus situation at all of our acute care sites,” reads the email which was sent to staff at Victoria General Hospital, and shared with @zoeducklow

#COVID19BC

#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: My latest for @CapitalDailyVic analyzes the rapidly deteriorating situation in BC and particularly on Vancouver Island, where #Omicron is expected to fuel 400+ daily cases by Christmas

#COVID19BC #yyj

capitaldaily.ca/news/vancouver… @CapitalDailyVic By ignoring evidence of aerosol transmission, Island Health still insists transmission doesn't happen on campus or in K-12 schools.

That’s the reason they gave for no longer requiring schools to report exposures. It looks more like a sign of contact tracing breakdown.

#bcpoli