Wednesday January 20, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
The next steps in BC’s COVID-19 immunization plan will be announced on Friday morning January 22, by Premier John Horgan.
Premier Horgan will be accompanied by Health Minister Adrian Dix, Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry, and Dr Penny Ballem who was recently assigned to the post of executive lead of the BC immunization rollout.
The 10:30 am livestreamed media teleconference about COVID-19 — now deep in the second wave — will be available at the usual online portals:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BCProvincialGovernment/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovNews?s=20
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ProvinceofBC
Adjusting along the way:
Public health protocols, guidelines and orders have become politicized during the pandemic, by every government at every level. That has been necessary for the management of the message and having the authority to take actions in the interest of public safety.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of life and living in BC including personal health and mental well-being, employment, business structures, economy, family dynamics, social infrastructure and the experience of community.
Friday’s announcement will be significant on all those levels and more. The public announcement at 10:30 am will be preceded by a technical session for media, which signals the depth of the new information.
The previously announced Thursday January 21 COVID update (usually at 3 pm) has been cancelled.
State of Emergency continues:
The State of Emergency in BC has been renewed every two weeks since March 18, 2020 (the day after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in BC). Presently the State of Emergency runs through February 5, but Premier Horgan has said that it will continue even a few weeks or months past the official end-date of the pandemic (whenever that comes).
COVID stats as of today January 20:
In BC there have been 62,412 test-positive COVID-19 cases (500 new today), with 4,345 of those presently active and 6,905 people under public health surveillance for exposure to known cases. Now 320 people are in hospital with COVID-19 (66 in intensive care). There are 14 more deaths for a total of 1,104.
On Vancouver Island there have been 1,338 test-positive COVID-19 cases (32 new today), with 183 of those presently active. Now 15 people are in hospital with COVID-19 (seven in intensive care). There are no new deaths reported today, with the total being 17.
