Restrictions in the Interior Health region are being eased as the BC Vaccine Card comes into effect, B.C.’s provincial health officer announced Monday alongside mandated vaccinations for all health care workers and booster shots for the severely immunocompromised.
Noting that over a million British Columbians have either downloaded the Vaccine Card or have a printed version coming in the mail, Dr. Bonnie Henry said that with the vaccination card, orders restricting gathering sizes and some operations of businesses in the Interior Health region can now be eased.
“That extra layer of protection means that we are going back to those activities in the Interior Health region that were restricted as cases increased,” she said.
Under the loosening of restrictions, indoor events may be held with up to 50 people or 50 per cent of a venue’s capacity (whichever is greater), and outdoor events are allowed up to 100 people. For these smaller organized events, participants will be required to show proof of vaccination (minimum one dose) until Oct. 24, after which full vaccination (two doses) will be required.
Outdoor events may now include 5,000 people or 50 per cent of a venue’s capacity, whichever is greater. Proof of full vaccination (two doses) will be required for participants at all large events.
High-intensity group exercise classes in the Interior are now permitted, provided all participants and instructors are fully vaccinated with two doses. All other fitness and exercise classes require proof of a minimum of one dose of the vaccine until Oct. 24, after which time two doses will be required.
And in the Central Okanagan, the restriction on alcohol service after 10 p.m. has been lifted from Sept.13.
Non-essential travel to or from the Interior remains discouraged until individuals are fully vaccinated.
Additionally, gatherings in vacation rentals are still limited to five guests or one household, and outdoor personal gatherings are still limited to no more than 50 people and indoor personal gatherings are limited to five guests or one household.
The B.C. government is also making COVID-19 vaccination a condition of employment for all acute and community health care workers across the province. This includes all health care workers, students, physicians, residents, contractors and volunteers who must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 26.
The requirement also applies to those working at contracted facilities used by patients, and at home and community care locations.
“It is an important part of our responsibility as health care workers to keep ourselves well and make sure that we’re able to care for people, but also to ensure that we’re not infecting our colleagues, or potentially bringing it into a setting where vulnerable people we care for may be infected,” she said.
Henry noted that overall vaccinations are high amongst health care workers with about 96 per cent of doctors vaccinated and the rate among nurses is in the high 80s-90s.
Those who refuse will be put on unpaid leave, Henry said, adding accommodations will be made for the “rare instances” in which individuals can’t get vaccinated for medical or religious reasons.
“We will have a process in place through my office with a committee of experts provincially to review every individual request for a medical or religious exemption,” Henry said, adding more details will be released shortly.
Henry also announced that the province will be offering third doses of the vaccine to about 15,000 people who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable such as organ transplant, bone marrow and stem-cell recipients and some cancer patients.
This follows from recommendations made last week by Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunizations.
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations continues to climb, putting a strain on health care providers and resources, as well as delaying hundreds of non-emergency surgeries.
Provincial health officials say there are 139 coronavirus patients in intensive care as of Monday, 87 per cent of whom are unvaccinated.
“Sadly, choices not to get vaccinated are affecting our families and our communities across the province,” Henry said. “Our health care workers deserve better and so do we, all of us, in British Columbia. It is our shared responsibility to get through this next phase of the pandemic.”
B.C. announced 1,984 new cases of COVID-19 between this past Friday and Sunday, with 823 new cases reported Friday, 641 on Saturday and 520 cases on Sunday.
For the first time in a number of weeks, the hot spot Interior Health did not lead the case count reporting 542 new cases for the period compared to Fraser Health which had the highest number of new cases at 609.
To date 85.8 per cent of people, 12 and older in B.C. have had their first dose of vaccine and 79.3 per cent have had two doses.
Henry also acknowledged there is frustration across B.C. at stricter policies including the mandatory vaccination policy and the renewed mask mandate, but emphasized it’s unacceptable to “take out this frustration on health care workers.”
“We are tired and stretched from this pandemic and we are all working tirelessly regardless of that. These rules are in place to protect all of us – patients and health care workers alike – and we need to respect them.
The BC Vaccine Card is available online at gov.bc.ca/vaccinecard. Those without access to a computer and/or printer can get their card by calling 1-833-838-2323 at the Get Vaccinated call centre to have their printed copy mailed to them.
