More restrictions as Omicron variant takes off in B.C.

• 1,308 new cases reported Tuesday
• Potential to overstress health care system
• System 'very, very fragile'

The surge of the highly transmissible Omicron variant in British Columbia and around the world will see a return of public health restrictions imposed earlier in the pandemic.

This includes the closure of gyms, bars and nightclubs, and seating maximums of six will return to restaurant tables. Non-urgent scheduled surgeries will be postponed starting early in the new year.

The Ministry of Health has reported 2,550 new cases of the virus between Friday and Sunday, pushing the total number of active infections to 5,435 — a leap of 2,486 cases in one week.

A further 1,308 new COVID cases were reported Tuesday, up from the 807 on Monday.

Meanwhile, the province’s leading health official said it was inevitable everyone would be exposed to the virus.

The provincial government announced Tuesday the additional restrictions will start at midnight Dec. 22 and run to Jan.18.

The restrictions are to address rising COVID-19 case counts that could result in increased hospitalizations and critical care admissions and the potential to overstress an already burdened health-care system.

"I know everyone is looking forward to being around their family and friends this holiday season after two challenging years,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said. “These restrictions balance the need for people to come together with the people they love with the need to collectively act to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

Speaking at a media briefing, Henry repeated the need to keep gatherings small in the coming weeks, to help ensure the health system is not inundated.

“We have a very fragile healthcare workforce right now. People are so tired. People need a break, they want a break,” Henry said.

The province is having a challenge getting people to work in vaccination clinics because they are the same people who are handling many other key COVID-19 responsibilities, including testing centres.

Asked what had changed since lighter restrictions were announced Friday, Henry cited a sharp rise of Omicron case counts Sunday.

“It became clear if we didn’t do something more dramatic, more intense right now, we couldn’t recover from it if it continued in the way it was going,” she said.

Henry said it was inevitable that most people would be exposed to the virus at some point.

“The way this strain of the virus is being transmitted in communities across the province, it is - over time - very likely that all of us will be exposed to it. How it affects us depends on our actions.”

Additional public health restrictions

• no organized indoor social events and gatherings of any size
• concerts, sports games and theatres reduced to 50% seated capacity, regardless of venue size
• closing gyms, fitness centres and dance studios
• closing bars and nightclubs
• limiting table sizes at restaurants, cafes and pubs to a maximum of six people per table with physical distancing or barriers

The Ministry of Health is postponing non-urgent scheduled surgeries starting Jan. 4, 2022, to manage pressure on acute care facilities. Urgent and emergency surgeries will continue, and rescheduling will be determined through continuous monitoring of capacity and COVID-19 impacts throughout January and on a regional basis.

"COVID-19 cases continue to increase at a concerning rate, and we must take stronger measures to help protect British Columbians and ensure our health-care system is there when people need it," Health Minister Adrian Dix said. "It's a critical time in our fight against COVID-19. Now is the time for us to act, and to work together to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our loved ones safe."

Expansion of rapid testing

The provincial government said B.C. had requested 11 million rapid test kits, or 13.5 per cent of the 84 million the federal government had ordered. As of mid-January it said 500,000 tests would be available for students and staff in K-to-12 education, and 500,000 for post secondary education. A total of 3 million tests would be available for long term health and acute care.

However, Dr. Henry stressed rapid testing was to be available for those vulnerable people or people who needed to be tested after contracting the virus. The tests were not being made available for people who wanted to check on their COVID status so they could socialize.

Booster shot rollout

At the same time, Dix said vaccination capacity will increase and the campaign for age-based population will be accelerated from January to March 2022.

“We won’t be offering them to everyone all at once. We’re going to go through age category by age category based on risk and based on the medical evidence that supports this program,” Dix said.

By the end of January, the goal is to provide 320,000 booster shots per week. Under the projections, the booster program would be completed by the end of March, two months earlier than the plan back in October.

That will increase vaccination capacity by 62 per cent, with more pharmacies added to provide shots.

Large vaccination sites will be used and Interior Health, along with other health regions, is in the process of securing larger spaces in a number of its centres.

With files from The Canadian Press and VernonMatters