BC introduces shorter isolation period and tighter long term care home restrictions
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Bluesky
-
Share on X
- Copy Link
NORTHERN BC- Health officials are limiting access to long term care homes to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in BC. Only essential visitors will be allowed in the facilities, an order that will be re-evaluated on January 18. The order comes into effect tomorrow (Saturday), and Provincial Health Officer, Dr.Bonnie Henry says it will remain in place for as short as possible.
“We need to decrease the number of people coming into our long term care homes so that we can best protect the seniors and elders in our care homes and ensure that health care workers in those settings are able to manage and cope,” explained Henry.
Officials also noted there will be a shorter self isolation period for fully vaccinated individuals that test positive. Anyone with both shots that test positive will only have to isolate for 5 days, as opposed to ten.
Pregnant women are now being prioritized in BC’s booster vaccination rollout plan. Pregnant individuals of any age that received their second dose six months ago is now eligible for a third shot. Newly eligible pregnant residents will need to contact the call center at 1-833-838-2323 to book an appointment. This comes as Henry announced pregnant women and their fetuses’ may be more at risk due to the Omicron variant.
