Dr. Henry says B.C.'s epidemiological curve is descending from the high seen in November. (flickr/Gov't of B.C.)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

covid-19 update

B.C. restrictions not easing with COVID-19 curve not flattening fast enough

Feb 5, 2021 | 11:24 AM

NANAIMO — B.C.’s COVID-19 curve is decreasing but not fast enough to remove current restrictions.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed Friday, Feb. 5 she will extend current restrictions on gatherings and events throughout British Columbia.

She said B.C.’s epidemic curve through the start of the year isn’t flat enough to ease current public safety restrictions, citing increased number of international variants and limited vaccine supply.

“We need to buy time to understand how these variants of concern or whether they will affect transmission in our community and we need to buy time to get our immunization program back up and running at full speed.”

Public health have confirmed 28 cases of either the U.K. or South African variant of COVID-19 in the province to date, with just over half linked to international travel.

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Dr. Henry said it was possible things like youth sports and a return to a ‘safe-six’ expanded bubble could return by March if numbers continued their current trend.

The key to keeping numbers reducing lays with staying close to home, according to Henry.

“Staying small, staying local right now for the next while will mean fewer cases, fewer outbreaks, fewer severe illness, fewer people in hospital and fewer people dying. These are the signs we will be watching through the hard push we have on right now until the end of this month.”

The province also provided a detailed look at the epidemiology of the pandemic through B.C. so far.

Cases continue to surge in people aged 20 to 49 years old and numbers have spiked in recent weeks in northern B.C. and the interior, which had largely avoided the brunt of the pandemic’s first wave.

Many of the cases found recently in the age group are a result of either social interactions or workplace contacts. Dr. Henry said they are “driving the pandemic” right now.

Dr. Henry added Island Health continues to pace well ahead other health authorities with significantly lower case counts despite testing rates on par with both Northern and Interior Health.

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