Thought of the Day - January 3 2022 - BC is Going in the Right Direction

While it took a little while, it looks like BC is starting to move in the right direction concerning Omicron. Here is the latest thinking:

1. Protecting care homes by allowing only essential visitors (see below for the definition).

2. Cutting back quarantine periods to 5 days, provided any symptoms have abated (for some reason, this only applies to the vaccinated).

3. Delaying school opening (at least for a few days).

4. Discouraging asymptomatic testing (and even for those with Omicron-indicative symptoms).

5. Providing booster vaccination to anyone who wants it (adults and those 18 years of age).

Carehome essential visits include:

• Visits for compassionate reasons including critical illness, palliative care, hospice care, end of life and medical assistance in dying;

• Visits paramount to the resident’s physical care and mental well-being (e.g., assistance with feeding, mobility, personal care or communication, assistance by designated representatives for persons with disabilities);

• Visits for supported decision-making;

• Existing registered volunteers providing the services described above;

• Visits required to move belongings in/out of a resident’s room; and

• Police, correctional officers, and peace officers accompanying a resident for security reasons.

Essential visits shall be limited to one visitor per resident within the facility at a time (except in the case of palliative/end-of-life care). Facility staff are charged with determining if a visit is essential.

Another great step would be getting caregivers the PPE they so sorely need, but I am not holding my breath on this one. I am sure there is more to come, but we are getting there

Cheers

Cliff