B.C.’s health minister Adrian Dix will hold a live update Tuesday afternoon as rising cases continue to pose difficulties across the province.
It comes after Dix and Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry announced live press conferences will be once again be held every Tuesday, giving the media and the public an opportunity to ask questions and receive updates on the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Tuesday’s press conference, which will just feature Adrian Dix, will be held at 1 p.m. PST and a live stream will be available on both CHEK’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Today’s announcement will feature an update on BC Emergency Health Services and recruitment in northern British Columbia, according to the Province.
The live update comes one day after B.C. unveiled new COVID-19 requirements surrounding healthcare workers.
READ MORE: B.C. introducing COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all healthcare workers
All healthcare workers and volunteers will soon have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in British Columbia, following a mandate issued on Monday.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said that the new vaccine mandate will take effect on Oct. 26 and it will be a condition of employment for all workers, physicians, contractors and volunteers in health facilities. It also applies to people who work in home and community care locations, including client homes.
The province also announced it would be giving a third vaccine booster shot to severely immunocompromised individuals.
Henry says about 15,000 British Columbians who are severely immunocompromised will receive a third dose in accordance with guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. They include those who’ve received an organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
On Monday, health officials reported 1,984 new cases of COVID-19 and nine deaths over the weekend.
220 of the new cases were located within the Island Health region as well as two of the nine deaths recorded over the weekend.
As for Vancouver Island, there are 528 active cases — 69 in North Island, 249 in Central Island and 210 in South Island — according to the latest update from Island Health.
Twenty-three people are in hospital with COVID on the Island, 15 of whom are in critical care.
Graham Cox
