19.24°C Vancouver

Nov 17, 2021 1:23 AM - The Canadian Press

B.C.'s top doctor emphasizes COVID-19 precautions heading into holiday season

Share On
b-c-s-top-doctor-emphasizes-covid-19-precautions-heading-into-holiday-season
B.C.'s provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry during a press conference in Victoria. (Photo - B.C. Govt.)

British Columbia's provincial health officer says officials are considering the "harmonization" of COVID-19 restrictions across the province heading into winter.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says the basics will be the same for everyone heading into a challenging period when "we don't want this virus to take off again."

Henry told a news conference Tuesday she expects there will be some additional restrictions in areas where transmission remains high and immunization rates are low, such as the Northern Health region, parts of the Interior and the eastern Fraser Valley.

She says colder weather is pushing people indoors for gatherings and it's important that people take extra precautions, including wearing face coverings.

Henry says she anticipates that Health Canada will be issuing recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 11 years old soon, and that there will be enough doses for more than 300,000 kids in that age range.

B.C. reported one more death and 338 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday for a total of 3,568 active infections across the province, including 376 people in hospital.

Nearly 87 per cent of eligible B.C. residents aged 12 and up have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, while 90.7 per cent have received their first dose.

Henry says B.C. has begun receiving shipments of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is being prioritized for health-care workers who are on leave because they haven't yet been immunized.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says 2,885 health-care workers remain unvaccinated, excluding those in long-term care facilities, while 97 per cent of B.C. health-care workers have received two doses.

Latest news

poilievre-unveils-action-plan-to-combat-extortion-during-surrey-visit
BCAug 20, 2025

Poilievre unveils action plan to combat extortion during Surrey visit

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled a three-point action plan to combat extortion-related crime during a press conference held today at the Royal King Banquet Hall in Surrey -the same location where a shooting incident took place on July 21, 2025. Flanked by Abbotsford–South Langley MP Sukhman Gill, and candidates Sukh Pandher and Jassie Sahota (a police officer), Poilievre said extortion-related crimes have surged by 330% under Liberal rule. He attributed this rise to the repeal of mandatory jail terms for gun-related extortion under Bills C-5 and C-75. “Extortion-related
police-say-man-charged-after-alberta-youth-launch-catch-a-predator-scheme
AlbertaAug 20, 2025

Police say man charged after Alberta youth launch 'catch a predator' scheme

Alberta RCMP say they have arrested and charged a Calgary man who, it was later determined, had been the focus of a ``catch a predator'' sting operation hatched by a group of youngsters. Mounties say the situation came to light in Airdrie on Monday night when a 12-year-old boy was abducted in a car only to escape at a stoplight and call police. The suspect, a 37-year-old, refused to stop for police and was later arrested at a Calgary residence. Subsequently, police said they learned the suspect had been targeted by at least seven youths in a ``catch a predator'' scheme. The you
some-evacuation-orders-alerts-linked-to-vancouver-island-wildfire-lifted
BCAug 20, 2025

Some evacuation orders, alerts linked to Vancouver Island wildfire lifted

Some of the evacuation orders and alerts linked to the Mount Underwood wildfire on Vancouver Island have been lifted or downgraded, as firefighters report "minimal" behaviour from the blaze. The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, the City of Port Alberni and the Tseshaht First Nation jointly issued an update at 8 a.m. saying evacuation orders are lifted for the China Creek Campground and Headquarters Bay, which remain on evacuation alert. The update also says that the City of Port Alberni and the Tseshaht First Nation's reserves are no longer under alert. The Cowichan Valley Regional Distric
police-watchdog-investigates-after-vancouver-officer-shoots-man-dead
BCAug 20, 2025

Police watchdog investigates after Vancouver officer shoots man dead

British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating after a man was shot dead in an alleged confrontation with officers in Vancouver. The Independent Investigations Office says the shooting took place Tuesday afternoon in an East Vancouver neighbourhood. It says there was a dispute between two people, and one man had a weapon when police arrived. The man was shot by police and died at the scene despite life-saving efforts by emergency responders. Vancouver police say the two people involved were neighbours involved in an argument. Police say no officers or other people were injured, and no fur
AlbertaAug 20, 2025

Costs of Manitoba’s extreme wildfire season start to take shape, evacuations ongoing

The Manitoba government has signed a 30-million-dollar contract with the Canadian Red Cross for evacuee support and other services related to this year's wildfires. The recently disclosed contract is the first glimpse into the cost of this year's wildfire season, which provincial officials say is the most severe in at least 30 years. Finance Minister Adrien Sala (SAH'-lah) says it's still too early to estimate a final cost, and the government is committed to supporting people who need help. The Red Cross contract alone is worth more than half of the 50-million dollars the N-D-P gover

Related News