Rising cases of respiratory illnesses including COVID-19 mean the return of masks to hospitals, clinics and long-term care homes starting Oct. 3, but not other facilities offering medical care and other public facilities such as schools.
Health-care workers and visitors havenB次元官网网址檛 had to wear masks since last April, when provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said COVID-19 cases had dropped off enough to safely remove the mandate. But she also said at the time that restrictions may return in the fall and Henry announced just that Thursday (Sept. 28) as part of an update about the coming respiratory illness season, which she delivered with health minister Adrian Dix.
Health-care workers, visitors, contractors and volunteers will have to start wearing masks starting Oct. 3 in areas where patients or residents are receiving medical care, Henry said. The masking requirement also applies to visitors of long-term care and assisting living facilities for facilities. They must wear them in all common areas and when taking part in any indoor events in common areas.
Henry said different settings pose different risks and the mask mandate for facilities tries to protect the most vulnerable. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 is where it makes the most difference in terms of having these layers of protection,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e know that all healthcare workers are vaccinated. The majority have hybrid immunity as well.B次元官网网址�
Henry said so-called ambassadors will be screening people for symptoms as they are entering facilities with mask mandates and to make sure that they have access to masks. B次元官网网址淲e do have security if needed, but I would encourage people to work with people and we donB次元官网网址檛 go to enforcement first. What we go to is explaining to people the importance of doing this, making sure they are not putting others at risk and supporting them.B次元官网网址�
Other health care environments wonB次元官网网址檛 be subject to the mandate.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have directives that affect physicians and dentists and private practitioners in the community,B次元官网网址� Henry said. B次元官网网址淲e do provide guidance and recommendation to them and I know from own experience that most dentists offices have never stopped wearing masks.B次元官网网址�
Schools are also not hospitals, Henry said, when asked schools wonB次元官网网址檛 be subject to the mandate. B次元官网网址淭he most important thing we have in schools is that people stay home, when they are sick, that we have provisions for that, we have looked at ventilation, that we have a known population,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a bunch of different people coming and going like we see in the acute care facilities, for example.B次元官网网址�
The mask mandate comes amidst rising cases of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Henry said they have been slowly rising since the end of August. Hospitalizations, critical care admissions and deaths among people who have COVID-19 have also increased this month.
This trend matches what health-care professionals see every year, with fall and winter seasons bringing a swell in respiratory illnesses.
Henry urged British Columbians to get vaccinated against both influenza and COVID-19, ideally at the same time, to protect both themselves and more vulnerable individuals, while also easing the pressure on the public health-care system.
Vaccines will be available to long-term care and health care workers as soon as vaccines become available with the start of the public campaign scheduled for Oct. 10. Groups receiving priority invitations include people with chronic health conditions, people aged 65 years and older, residents of long-term care homes, Indigenous peoples and pregnant people.
Dix also updated the public on broader preparations within the health care system.
B次元官网网址淥ur health care system has learnt and adapted to meet patientsB次元官网网址� needs and weB次元官网网址檙e continuing to do that today,B次元官网网址� he said, having pointed that hospitals had already been treating more patients over the summer than usual. He said this September hospitals have been treating an average 350 more patients per day this month than last September.
B次元官网网址淥n Jan. 6, we reached 10,280 people in acute care and at that time, we took even more measures to address the situation to ensure that people were able to get care safely,B次元官网网址� he said.
It is against this backdrop that B.C. has taken even additional measures, he added. They include better coordination between health authorities and BC Emergency Health Services; development of a standard provincial seasonal surge response plan based on the last three respiratory seasons; sustained work on hiring more nurses and doctors and extensive work on raising the number of beds.
While B.C. historical bed base was 9,202, this number will rise to 9,880 for the fall and winter, Dix said. Health authorities will be able to add another 1,500 surge beds, he added.
Dix added later that his ministry continues to work with rural communities to ensure emergency room access. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an absolute priority,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want to see any emergency rooms closed.B次元官网网址�
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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