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
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Democrat who ran on abortion rights flips seat in deeply conservative Alabama
Marilyn Lands, who campaigned on abortion rights in deeply conservative Alabama, won a special election to the Alabama Legislature, in a victory that Democrats say illustrates voter backlash to extreme reproductive restrictions imposed by Republicans.