June 3, 2021—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 3
B.C. could be back to normal by September: Henry Now that more than 60 per cent have a first dose, the government gives a road map to province-wide recovery By Denise Titian Ha-shilth-Sa Reporter British Columbia – Circuit Breaker COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. “We have been waiting for this day for a long time,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. She laid out the four-step restart plan in a televised statement on May 25. Now that more than 60 per cent of the province’s adult population have been immunized with at least one dose of vaccine. While COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have stabilized, the province can move forward with the lifting of restrictions in a careful and gradual way, said Henry. Beginning May 25, the province eased restrictions and started Step One of BC’s Restart Plan designed to get people back together. This will mean that restaurants and bars may resume indoor service with physical distancing and mask requirements. Activities that are now allowed under Step One include: -Maximum of five visitors or one household allowed for indoor personal gatherings -Maximum of 10 people for outdoor personal gatherings -Maximum of 10 people for seated indoor organized gatherings with safety protocols -Maximum of 50 people for seated outdoor organized gatherings with safety protocols -Recreational travel only within designated health region -Indoor and outdoor dining for up to six people with safety protocols -Resume outdoor sports (games) with no spectators, low-intensity fitness with safety protocols -Continue a gradual return to workplac-
es towards pre-pandemic conditions -Provincewide mask mandate, business safety protocols and physical distancing measures remain in place -Return of indoor in-person faith-based gatherings (reduced capacity) based on consultation with public health Step Two could begin June 15 if conditions permit. Back in March 2021, when the third wave of COVID-19 cases began sweeping through the province, officials moved to prevent overwhelming the health care system with what they called “circuit breaker” measures. “Rising case levels, variants of concern, increased transmission and an increase in more severe cases are huge concerns,” said Adrian Dix, minister of Health, in March. “B.C. public health officials are making the tough choices now to break the chain and protect our communities.” They remind people that getting vaccinated is the most important tool to supporting the restart. Now that at least 60 per cent of the 18-plus population have received at least a first dose vaccination and case counts have been declining, the provincial health officials hope to see a complete return to a pre-COVID-19 world by as early as Sept. 7. In order for that to happen, more than 70 per cent of the adult population must be inoculated with at least the first dose of vaccine, along with low case counts and low COVID-19 hospitalizations. If we move to Step Four later this summer, normal social contact would be permitted and mask wearing would become a personal choice. For now, people can continue a gradual return to the workplace with COVID-19 safety plans in place. Indoor low-intensity group exercise with limited capacity is permitted. Outdoor games and practices for all ages is allowed, but spectators are
Bonnie Henry not permitted to any indoor or outdoor sports activities. It is hoped that Step Two can begin June 15 if at least 65 per cent of the adult population have received at least a first dose of vaccine with continued declining case counts and hospitalizations. Masks will continue to be required at indoor settings. In Step Two, outdoor personal gatherings will increase up to 50 people. This includes birthday parties, barbecues and block parties. Recreational travel within B.C. will be allowed. By Canada Day, July 1, Step Three will begin if 70 per cent of the 18-plus population have received a first dose of vaccine, along with low case counts and low numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations. Premier John Horgan said that it is important to move forward in a thoughtful way. He said more than 1,600 lives have been lost since the pandemic began 15 months ago. He acknowledged the sacrifices British Columbians have made over that time.
“We will continue to ask you to make sacrifices over the next few weeks,” he said. He added that if things continue to go in the right direction, we could possibly see late graduation ceremonies. “We’re excited about our opening plan…but we don’t want to lurch forward only to have to lurch backward,” he said. An emotional Dr. Bonnie Henry said they have been waiting for this day for a long time. “The focus is to protect people and get them safely back to enjoying life,” she said. The key is the distribution of safe, effective vaccines. And Henry says the province has a safe, steady, reliable supply. Henry recalled that the restart plan that began in the summer of 2020 was derailed in October and November when the second wave of COVID-19 started. Back then, vaccine was not available. The first doses of vaccine were administered in British Columbia in December 2020, and since then, distribution has been widespread. “By February all long-term care residents were vaccinated – that is when we saw the value of vaccine,” said Henry. “Fewer people were getting sick and when they did they had milder symptoms.” In March 2021 the third wave of COVID-19 brought with it variants which increased pressure on the health care system. Henry says there has been a dramatic increase in vaccine supply and now people as young as age 12 can get vaccinated. “We have seen the case rates come down dramatically since the vaccines have arrived. Now we have the foundation for a new restart,” she said. If you or anyone in your family feels sick, the PHO advises that you stay home and get tested immediately.
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation looks forward to re-opening By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tofino, BC - British Columbians can anticipate returning “to normal life” by early September, after B.C. officials launched a four-step plan to ease pandemic restrictions on Tuesday. Under the provincial restart plan, indoor dining and low-intensity indoor fitness classes can resume, a maximum of five visitors are allowed to gather indoors and 10 people are permitted for outdoor gatherings. The province continues to be divided into three regional zones, however Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry encouraged residents to explore their designated travel zone. “Go camping within the area that you live,” she said during a press conference. Over 60 per cent of adults within the province have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which has stabilized case counts and triggered a drop in hospitalizations and ICU patients, said Henry. “We will be adjusting our safety plans to make sure that businesses can continue to operate as restrictions are lifted in the coming weeks and months,” she said. “We’ll be staying flexible because we know this virus has some tricks up its sleeve still. We will be continuing to monitor what’s happening around the globe because we know that we’re not
all safe until everybody has been immunized. And that still is quite a challenge in many parts of the world.” Jared Beaton, Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort general manager, said the phased approach allows the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation-owned resort to ease into operating at maximum capacity. “This allows us to have a little bit of a softer open,” he said. “And [to] make sure that our staff are coming back gradually – being trained properly.” The earliest the province will move into Phase 2 of the restart plan is June 15. Phase 3 is anticipated to begin July 1 and Phase 4 will start Sept. 7, pending a continued rise in vaccination rates and a decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. While the resort may not be able to operate at full capacity until September, Beaton said the “pent-up demand” is likely to make for a busy Fall. “The way occupancy is going in the books right now [indicates] we’re heading into a very strong fall,” he said. “I don’t see us going back into that rut again, where I’m having to lay staff off after them being trained. I’m very confident we’ll keep everybody gainfully employed, based on what I’m seeing right now.” With its stakes in the tourism industry, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation tribal administrator Jim Chisholm said the nation has been financially impacted.
Photo by Melissa Renwick
Tourists flocked to Long Beach as B.C. transitioned into Phase 3 of its restart plan last summer. COVID-19 restrictions are once again opening up. orders and adopting a COVID-19 safety “Obviously we want to see things open plan, Beaton said he feels they are “doing up - everybody does,” he said. “But the the right thing.” health of our people is first and foremost Tin Wis is currently operating at around … We’re not going to put people into 35 per cent capacity, said Beaton. jeopardy, or our community’s at risk, for “We all want to be open at full capacfinancial rewards – that isn’t going to ity,” he said. “But at the end of the day, happen.” we have to be responsible, too.” Since the beginning of the pandemic, The next best thing, is the phased apTla-o-qui-aht has had a security gate proach outlined by the government, said to restrict access to their communities, Beaton. chief and council meetings subsequently “We’re really excited to start welcoming moved to Zoom and the band office repeople back to the hotel in a safe manner mains closed, said Chisholm. so that they can come out and enjoy the “We’ve done everything we can to ensure everybody’s health,” he said. “We’ve nature,” he said. “I think it’s really exciting that the prospect of being open for followed every precaution and recomtravel this summer is great.” mendation from the government.” By following the provincial health
