Dr. Bonnie Henry envisions ‘post-pandemic world’ by summer

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – B.C.’s top doctor is offering hope that we can return to some sense of normalcy within months.

“Maybe I’m too optimistic, but we’re going to be in our post-pandemic world by the summer, if things continue to go the way that we want them to,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said Thursday.

“We know there’s going to be snags … I think it was Eisenhower that said ‘No plan survives first contact with the enemy.’ But we are going to do our best, and we are going to make sure that young people have that experience and I think, by the summer, we’re going to be able to be doing a lot more of those connections that we need. That’s going to help us get through the trauma that we’ve all experienced together,” she added.

Related article: BCTF president hopeful teachers can receive COVID-19 vaccine before summer

Henry expects many younger people will be able to get at least their first dose before the summer arrives, and confirms B.C.’s immunization committee is taking another look at who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine when, with the hope of developing a more detailed framework in two weeks.

She says she is aiming to have an update by March 18.

Henry says detailed plan being developed and hopes to have update by March 18th.
She says focus now is in places with outbreaks to contain community spread.
Use of rapid tests at “point of care” is increasing. #bcpoli @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) March 4, 2021

Henry says 298,851 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given in B.C. so far, including 86,746 that are second doses.

Earlier this week, Henry said the province is now lengthening the interval between the first and second doses of the COVID-19 shot to four months, instead of 42 days.

“That means we can move everybody up the list. More people will be protected sooner. Extending this second dose provides very high real-world protection to more people sooner,” Henry said Monday.

Henry speaking now about restrictions in place now not getting lifted until we have more people protected and we “have a handle on” community transmissions. #bcpoli @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) March 4, 2021

On Thursday, B.C. recorded 564 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 82,473. Four more people have died, for a total of 1,376.

There are 248 people hospitalized, including 63 in critical care.

The province says 46 more cases are confirmed to be variants of concern, for a total of 246. Sixteen of those cases are considered active.

Related article: What side effects do Canadians report after getting COVID-19 vaccine?

Henry says restrictions will not be lifted until more people are protected against the virus and they “have a handle on” community transmissions.

BREAKING: 4 new COVID-19 deaths reported in B.C. over the last 24 hours and an additional 564 cases identified. More to come…

WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/hJ9YtISAeW #COVID19BC pic.twitter.com/m4wxMQViZl

— CityNews 1130 Vancouver (Inactive) (@news1130) March 4, 2021