Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. emerging from pandemic, Henry says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Apr, 2023 03:20 PM
  • B.C. emerging from pandemic, Henry says

VICTORIA - British Columbia is lifting pandemic restrictions like mandatory mask-wearing in health-care settings and visitor restrictions and proof of vaccination in care homes.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the requirement for health-care workers to be fully vaccinated remains, but the steady decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations indicates the province is "emerging" from the pandemic.

Henry says that despite the continued presence of COVID infections in the next few months, they are likely to be able to say that B.C. is no longer in a pandemic.

The province says it has been using a new, more sensitive wastewater test for COVID-19 since March, which shows COVID-19 infection levels "stable or decreasing at all sites."

Henry says the lifting of mask requirements does not mean such restrictions won't return in the fall, as experts are still studying the seasonality of COVID.

Henry also says the province has not decided on an immunization plan for COVID going forward, but data has shown that "hybrid immunity" stemming from a mix of vaccinations and infections has proven to be longer-lasting than immunity granted from either method alone.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. to secure access to drug of social media fame

B.C. to secure access to drug of social media fame
 Adrian Dix said in January that the government would be investigating why almost 10 per cent of prescriptions for the drug in B.C. were filled for American citizens. Dix said at the time that the dramatic increase in demand for the diabetes drug was partly because of social media "influencers" who spoke about its weight loss benefits.

B.C. to secure access to drug of social media fame

Unprecedented construction needed in B.C.: Report

Unprecedented construction needed in B.C.: Report
The province must build 25 per cent more new homes than usual for the next five years to address deteriorating housing affordability. The association said construction needs to be ramped up to a record 43,000 housing completions a year for the next five years to counteract rapid population growth.

Unprecedented construction needed in B.C.: Report

Burnaby RCMP seeks man wanted on BC-wide arrest warrant: Manveer Singh Dhesi

Burnaby RCMP seeks man wanted on BC-wide arrest warrant: Manveer Singh Dhesi
28-year-old Manveer Singh Dhesi, who is known to reside in Surrey but spend time in Burnaby, is wanted in relation to several charges including assault, uttering threats, and mischief. Burnaby RCMP is appealing for tips on his whereabouts as investigators work to locate him.    

Burnaby RCMP seeks man wanted on BC-wide arrest warrant: Manveer Singh Dhesi

32 year old Inderdeep Singh Gosal charged with murder in Vancouver Starbucks stabbing

32 year old Inderdeep Singh Gosal charged with murder in Vancouver Starbucks stabbing
Police say the stabbing happened Sunday after a brief altercation between two men outside the coffee shop in the city's downtown core. 32 year old Inderdeep Singh Gosal is accused of second-degree murder.    

32 year old Inderdeep Singh Gosal charged with murder in Vancouver Starbucks stabbing

Dog, cat custody to be built into B.C. laws

Dog, cat custody to be built into B.C. laws
Attorney General Niki Sharma says amendments she introduced in B.C.'s legislature will clarify the law around pets, property and pensions for couples and families going through a separation or divorce.

Dog, cat custody to be built into B.C. laws

Canada goose population 'havoc' on B.C. park space

Canada goose population 'havoc' on B.C. park space
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation wants the public to report a nest sighting so staff can replace the eggs with ones that have been frozen to help control the population. Vancouver is an ideal habitat for the birds, with few natural predators and plenty of newly seeded fields and lawns.

Canada goose population 'havoc' on B.C. park space