As more people in the north are contracting Covid than there is space for, the BC Government is declaring a circuit breaker for Northern BC.
Northern Health has had to add in 23 critical care beds as Covid cases in the north have surged, bringing the total number of critical care beds to 63.
Even so, 58 people have had to be transferred out of the north. That includes 45 people with Covid and an additional 13 people who had to be transferred because there just isn’t enough space in the northern hospitals to accommodate them.
More than half of those cases are from the Northeast.
Health Minister Adrien Dix says moving 58 people out of a region with 40 beds is a “significant situation. “We do this for one another because that is what we do. We support one another in a public health care system.”
But, he says, it doesn’t mean that this situation is acceptable. He says Northern Health is having to cancel surgeries to deal with the rise in cases. “Other patients are crowded out of their hospital that they support and which supports them, because of Covid. This is a significant situation. 58 people. 45 with Covid. All but one not fully vaccinated.”
Since the announcement, that number has climbed to 71 people, 56 with Covid.
As a result, there are new public health orders for most of the Northern Health Region.
Dix says that 25 of the people who have had to get flown out are from the Peace River area. “All of them very ill. Some of them without Covid, but there was no room at the local hospitals.”
“Hospitals in Northern Health are overstretched as beds become filled with Covid patients, primarily unvaccinated,” said Northern Health chief medical health officer Dr. Jong Kim. “People needing critical care are being transferred to other regions of the province. Everyone needs to get immunized to help keep our hospitals open for treating people with other illnesses Until more people make the choice to get vaccinated, we need to ensure we have orders in place to protect the most vulnerable and limit the spread.”
Kim says the Delta variant is leading to faster transmission and more severe outcomes for people in communities with lower vaccination rates, including younger people. Immunization remains the most effective prevention against Covid. With a large unvaccinated population, these additional orders will provide additional protection.
Areas such as the Northwest where vaccination rates are high, and transmission is low will be exempted from the new orders at this time. They will still be subject to the current B.C.’s Restart Step 3 requirements and the existing Provincial Health Officer order or Northern Medical Health Officer order.
“We are doing everything we can to support the north, and we will continue to do so,” said Dix at the announcement on October 14. “But we also need to ask people in the north to do more. We are committed to supporting the north. we need to take steps together to reduce transmission in the north.”
As of October 14, 2021 the entire Northern Health region, (with the exception of Local Health areas west of Kitiwanga: Terrace, Kitimat, Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert, Stikine, Telegraph Creek, Snow Country and Nisga’a) are under the following additional orders:
- Personal gatherings, both indoor and outdoor, are restricted to fully vaccinated people, including at private residences and vacation accommodation
- Indoor gathering: up to 5 people are permitted
- Outdoor gathering: up to 25 people are permitted
- All indoor and outdoor organized events require a safety plan and for attendees to wear a mask and present their BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated
- Indoor event: up to 50 people are permitted
- Outdoor event: up to 100 people are permitted
- Worship services: virtual services are required
- Fast-food restaurants and unlicensed cafés without table service can provide take-out only or require patrons to present the BC Vaccine card showing they are fully vaccinated.
- Licensed establishments and those with table service must not serve alcohol between 10pm-9am and must require patrons to present the BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated.
- Bars and nightclubs (no meal service) will be closed
- Sport events spectators (indoor and outdoor) are limited to 50% capacity, must have a safety plan, and require attendees to wear masks and present their BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated
The restrictions on indoor fitness classes and gyms have not changed.
These new measures will be in place until November 19 midnight. Kim, says they may be extended if cases remain high and vaccination rates remain low.
In addition to these measures, people are strongly recommended to stay in their own community.
“We are under immense pressure in our facilities that is fueled by an unvaccinated population,” said Northern Health president and CEO, Cathy Ulrich. “We continue to encourage all people age 12 and up to get immunized.”
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
