'Our successes are your successes': Health minister applauds majority effort on COVID-19

While the provincial government will, as previously stated, announce some easing of pandemic-related restrictions next week, it’s unlikely to include the end to the B.C. Vaccine Card.

Meanwhile, the health minister has highlighted the need to balance the right to protest with the responsibility to respect others.

During a media briefing Wednesday, B.C.’s top doctor was asked if the so-called vaccine passport - that allows access to activities like going to a restaurant or indoor event - was still serving the purpose of helping to stop the spread of infection.

“Absolutely, from the very beginning there’s two reasons,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said. “One of them is incentives to encourage people to be vaccinated… but also, it’s those indoor settings where we’re seeing [the virus] spread more rapidly, and we’re seeing this with Omicron.”

Henry's soccer analogy

On the issue of the card’s initial, but now diminishing purpose of stopping the virus spreading between the vaccinated and unvaccinated, Henry likened things to Canada’s world class soccer captain.

“It’s like saying Christine Sinclair and I both play soccer. There’s a qualitative difference to that. In those higher risk indoor settings yes, there’s still a risk that people who are fully vaccinated may transmit Omicron to each other … but they’re very unlikely to end up with severe illness, where for an unvaccinated person, we cannot say that.”

Henry did not indicate what measures may be relaxed next week but said gatherings and events orders are coming up for review on Feb. 16, and what the coming weeks will look like will be made clear on Feb. 15.

And while other province's lift public health restrictions, British Columbia is moving forward with mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for all health care professionals. That policy will take effect on March 24.

Henry first mentioned plans for the order last October, which covers all other health care workers not covered by current rules in place, such as family doctors, dentists, psychologists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and chiropractors.

Rights come with responsibility

As the province moves towards some easing of restrictions, Health Minister Adrian Dix made it clear the progress being made in combatting the virus and any upcoming gains would be the result of people getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and following other advice.

In reference to ongoing anti-vaccine and anti-mandate protests, Dix said rights come with responsibilities.

“My freedom to swing my arm depends on if anyone is standing in front of me, because they may be hurt,” he said. “There continues to be to this day a very significant number of unvaccinated people in intensive care. We all have the right to make mistakes, but we have to appreciate the rights of other people.”

Dix highlighted how 93.2 per cent of British Columbians had been vaccinated, while just 6.8 per cent had not -- a 16-to-one split -- and the majority should be rewarded for the sacrifices they’ve made.

Latest numbers

On Wednesday, B.C. reported 1,187 new cases of COVID-19, with 18 new deaths, 893 COVID-positive hospitalizations (93 fewer than Tuesday), and 143 people in intensive care ( three fewer than the previous day).

In the Interior, there were 370 new cases, two new deaths, 185 hospitalizations (10 fewer than Tuesday), and 27 people in intensive care (one more than the previous day).