Province clamping down in non-essential travel, extends current health orders

“This is not heavy handed in my mind, it’s random and it will be done in a way that includes everyone at a particular place at a particular time and there will be consequences if you’re outside of your area on non-essential business,” Horgan said.

The travel restrictions and fines are limited to travel outside of a health authority, such as going from the Island to the Lower Mainland. Travel between communities in the same health authority, for example Nanaimo to Victoria, is discouraged but not eligible to be fined under the pending orders.

In addition, BC Ferries will stop accepting bookings for recreational vehicles like campers and trailers on Friday. The company will also circle back to existing reservations to ensure the travel is essential.

Throughout at least the next five weeks, through to the May long weekend, BC Ferries will not add typical additional summer sailings to its schedule.

Horgan also said signage will be placed at the B.C./Alberta border to remind drivers of limitations on non-essential travel. Campsite bookings will also be reviewed with those from outside of the health authority subject to cancellation.

“The vast majority of British Columbians are [following the rules] right now. It’s for that small group of people who are not listening, not paying attention and putting their fellow members of the community at risk, that’s who we’re focusing on.”

Finally, existing restrictions aimed at limiting hotspots for COVID-19 transmission will also continue for five more weeks.

Current public health orders closing indoor restaurant dining and restricting group fitness activities are extended through to Monday, May 24.

Restrictions include a ban on in-home gatherings outside the family unit and a continued plea to avoid non-essential travel and limit outside interactions with people not in your immediate bubble.

The move comes as daily case counts remain high, however public health has identified a recent downward curve in the seven day average.

The rolling average for new cases peaked earlier in April at approximately 1,150 cases per day. In the week since, the third under current restrictions placed back in March, daily case counts have averaged around 1,075.

The same dips were not recorded in hospitalizations, which have continued to steadily rise since early April.

Public health reported a dip in the rolling seven day average across B.C. in late April. (BC Government)

Between March 17 to April 16, the number of people in medical beds rose from 220 to 298. In addition, those in critical care beds increased from 83 to 127 while patients on ventilators nearly doubled from 37 to 65.

The largest increase among hospitalizations occurred in the 50-59 year old age cohort.

Within Island Health, the occupancy rate of base beds was at 89.8 per cent with 136 vacant beds out of 1,338 as of April 16. None of the health authority’s 44 surge beds were in use.

Around 52 per cent, or 32 of Island Health’s 73 critical care beds, also sat vacant.

Hospital resources continue to be nearly maxed as a result of COVID-19 cases including through the surge in April. (BC Government)

Island Health is currently the only health authority to have no hospitals at or above 95 per cent capacity.

Four hospitals in each of Fraser, Vancouver Coastal and Interior health authority were all near capacity, which the province said could delay some surgery schedules due to a redeployment of resources to staff COVID-19 beds.

Beginning this week, the province will offer the AstraZeneca vaccine through B.C. pharmacies to those 40 and up, while also hosting vaccine clinics in 13 communities deemed high risk for hospitalization.

None of the communities are in Island Health.

Additional vaccines will be made available to meet demand as needed.

As of April 14, 1.15 million, or 25 per cent, of adults in B.C. received at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, including around 85 per cent of people aged 80 or older.

Approximately 3.15 million people remain to receive a first dose and the province is aiming to have 60 per cent of adults in B.C. immunized by the end of May.

Public health is taking appointments for those aged 63 or over for doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Registration will open through out the week for people aged 18 or older to begin the process of vaccination.

The province announced 2,960 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday over three reporting periods from the weekend.

Island Health reported 100 new cases from the same time period, including 21 in the central Island region. Southern Vancouver Island accounted for 61 of the weekend cases, with the north making up the remaining 17.

Active cases in the health authority dipped 100 to 346, with 102 cases currently active in the central Island region.

There is a data discrepancy between Island Health and the province, based on the timing of COVID-19 results. NanaimoNewsNOW reports local verified data from Island Health.

Active cases across B.C. dropped to 9,353 including 341 people in hospital with 138 of those receiving critical care.

The province reported eight new fatalities linked to COVID-19, including in a child under the age of two who passed away at BC Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Henry said the child had pre-existing health conditions and is the youngest person in the province to die from the virus.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Province clamping down in non-essential travel, extends current health orders

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