B.C.’s Health Minister says 80 per cent of people aged 50 and older are expected to have a first COVID-19 vaccine dose “very soon.”
Adrian Dix was asked by NL News if that will be a threshold when it comes to easing any restrictions.
“We need to see. And it’s very important I think especially this week and next week, to be living in the present. To be following public health guidance and public health orders. (Cases) have been running in the 500-to-650 range in the last number of days. And that is way better than 1,250, but it’s not where we want to be,” Dix says.
“We’re not there yet. Case counts are too high, hospitalizations are too high, too many people are in critical care. So we need to continue to take steps.”
Current circuit-breaker restrictions and travel restrictions are in place until May 25.
“We need to continue to make progress and there are a number of factors that go into decisions about changing orders. But right now, what I’m saying is let’s live in the present,” Dix added. “Let’s not travel except for essential reasons. Let’s follow public health guidance and orders.”
During her COVID-19 briefing today, Henry noted that no COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted before the May long weekend even though the infection rate continues to trend downward.
She also noted that even after the long weekend it’s not going to be like flicking a switch, with any relaxing of restrictions on large gatherings not likely to come until at least Canada Day.
As of Monday afternoon, Dix says 85 per cent of people aged 70 and older had gotten a first vaccine dose in B.C. The vaccine rate was 80 per cent for people aged 60-69, 70 per cent for people aged 50-59 and 62 per cent for people between 40-49 years old.
More than 50 per cent of people aged 18 and older in B.C. have gotten their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 2.3 million vaccine doses now administered across the province.
“Our immunization program is moving quickly as more and more vaccines are available and the ages for those eligible are coming down,” Henry said. “We are also actively working to incorporate the age 12 to 17 into our immunization program and we will be sharing more information about that next week.”
This afternoon, Dix noted that anyone over the age of 18 will be able to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment by Sunday. That’s after Dr. Henry said earlier this week that all people aged 18 and older in B.C. will be able to book a vaccine appointment by May 21.
