Over a three-day period, there have been 203 new COVID-19 cases in Northern Health and five new deaths.
Active cases have dropped to 764 in the region.
Province-wide, B.C. is reporting 1,370 new cases of COVID-19 from the weekend with now 4,668 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
Of the active cases, 436 individuals are in hospital and 140 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.
In the past 72 hours, 25 new deaths have been reported in B.C. including the five in Northern Health, for an overall total of 2,181.
There are also 39 active healthcare facility outbreaks in the province with five ongoing in Northern Health: two at two at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George and one the GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel, Wrinch Memorial Hospital in Hazelton, and the Bulkley Valley District Hospital.
The province is reporting that from Oct. 22-28, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 64.6 per cent of cases and from Oct. 15-28, they accounted for 73.5 per cent of hospitalizations.
B.C. health-care workers numbering 3,325 are currently on unpaid leave after going without a single vaccine dose for COVID-19.
About 5 per cent of health-care workers in the Interior Health region are unvaccinated compared with 2 per cent in Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health and Island Health, respectively. In Northern Health, that number is 4 per cent (or 320 employees).
All health-care workers were required to be vaccinated by Oct. 26 or face unpaid leave ahead of potential termination.
The deadline appears to have spurred some to get their first shot. Six days ago, 4,090 health-care workers were unvaccinated — drop of about 700 people.
Unvaccinated workers have until Nov. 15 to get their first dose while they are on unpaid leave.
Public servants also face an impending deadline of Nov. 22 to disclose their vaccination status or else they will be considered to be unvaccinated and face being placed on unpaid leave for three months.
Partially vaccinated workers “may be” offered alternative working arrangements, said Health Minister Adrian Dix. They will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated within 35 days of getting their first dose.
The Northern Health region also remains under its circuit breaker health orders, as vaccination rates in the region are low.
The health orders were announced in the Northern Health Region on Oct. 14 and remain in place until Nov. 19 and are as follows:
- Personal gatherings, both indoor and outdoor, are restricted to fully vaccinated people, including at private residences and vacation accommodation
- Indoor gathering: up to 5 people are permitted
- Outdoor gathering: up to 25 people are permitted
- All indoor and outdoor organized events require a safety plan and for attendees to wear a mask and present their BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated
- Indoor event: up to 50 people are permitted
- Outdoor event: up to 100 people are permitted
- Worship services: virtual services are required
- Restaurants:
- Fast-food restaurants and unlicensed cafés without table service can provide take-out only or require patrons to present the BC Vaccine card showing they are fully vaccinated.
- Licensed establishments and those with table service must not serve alcohol between 10 p.m.-9 a.m. and must require patrons to present the BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated.
- Bars and nightclubs (no meal service) will be closed
- Sport events spectators (indoor and outdoor) are limited to 50 per cent capacity, must have a safety plan, and require attendees to wear masks and present their BC Vaccine Card showing they are fully vaccinated
- with files from Tyler Orton, Business in Vancouver
