COVID-19 restrictions: B.C. gyms reopening this week, other measures extended
The B.C. government has extended most of the COVID-19 restrictions imposed last month to combat the spread of Omicron, but is allowing gyms to reopen under new guidelines.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the high levels of COVID-19 transmission still occurring across the province, as well as record numbers of test-positive patients in hospital, mean the bulk of the current measures must remain in place until Feb. 16, at the earliest.
Those restrictions limit the size of household gatherings, ban indoor events such as weddings receptions, prohibit bars and nightclubs from operating, and strictly regulate the behaviour of diners in restaurants.
Some of the measures have been controversial since they were announced in mid-December, when little was known about the highly-transmissible Omicron variant, but Henry said it's become clear that they have made a difference.
"I know that many people felt that we were overreacting," she added.
"My challenge is to find that balance of making sure we're doing just enough to address the situations we're in and not allowing our system to be overwhelmed."
The decision to close fitness facilities in particular was met with much pushback from the industry, which argued that helping people stay healthy, both mentally and physically, should be a priority nearly two years into the pandemic.
Henry said after developing new guidelines in collaboration with the Fitness Industry Council of Canada, the province is taking the "cautious step" of allowing gyms to reopen on Jan. 20.
Previous vaccine passport requirements remain in place, while the new guidelines include a minimum space of seven square metres around each person exercising.
"In addition, masks must be worn at all times, except when exercising, as we know that can cause challenges for some people," Henry said. "However, I will say it is absolutely encouraged during exercise, depending on what you're doing, for most people, given what we know about Omicron right now."
COMBATING 'NARRATIVE' AROUND VARIANT
The decision to extend most of B.C.'s restrictions was based on the increased understanding of how Omicron – now the dominant variant in the province – is impacting the state of the pandemic locally, and Henry tried to address what she described as a "narrative around right now that Omicron is mild."
While many people have experienced relatively mild symptoms, officials said several groups have emerged as being at higher risk of serious illness, even with Omicron: the unvaccinated, people over age 70, and the immunocompromised. All of them deserve protection as the Omicron wave continues, Henry said.
"We need to really pay attention," she said. "With the high rates of transmission, there are still lots of people who do get seriously ill."
B.C.'s seven-day average for deaths related to COVID-19 has been climbing for weeks, going from 1.29 per day at the start of January to 6.29 per day as of Monday. Last weekend, someone died from complications related to COVID-19 every 3.3 hours, on average, in British Columbia.
It's unclear whether the steady increase in fatalities is linked to the resurgence of outbreaks in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities. There are now dozens of active outbreaks in those settings across the province; as recently as Dec. 22, there were none.
Henry noted that even people age 70 and up who are fully vaccinated face a higher risk than the general population, as people's immune systems become less responsive as they get older, and they are more likely to have underlying conditions.
Even young and healthy people can suffer severe outcomes from COVID-19, officials added, pointing to data that shows approximately one in 10 people will experience symptoms that last for 12 weeks or longer, even with Omicron.
"That's a long time to be seriously ill," Henry said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.