COVID-19: If B.C. stays on track, ‘circuit breaker will be over’ soon, premier says

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As B.C.’s records the lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since mid-February, the premier issued a stern warning for people to heed the public health orders that remain in place until at least the end of the long weekend.

The province recorded 357 new cases on Thursday and three deaths.

Premier John Horgan emphasizes people must heed the restrictions, which are set to expire at 12 a.m. Tuesday.

“I’m confident that British Columbians can make this modest sacrifice for one more long weekend, so we can protect our frontline workers who have been there for us for the past 15 months, and well before that, keeping us safe,” he said.

He says if British Columbians stay on track, we “can expect on Tuesday that the circuit breaker will be over.”

However, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry emphasized that restrictions will be lifted “slowly, but surely.”

“Nothing is going to be back to 100 per cent on Tuesday. It’s not going to be a light switch. It’s going to be a dimmer switch,” she said.

NEW: Can “expect the circuit breaker to be over” Premier @jjhorgan says of what people can expect next week.
This is the first time we’ve heard this (DBH & Dix are just saying it will be gradual change)#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) May 20, 2021

RE @jjhorgan saying circuit breaker lifting Tuesday – is there enough info to make that call?
DBH: See things going in the right direction but have seen things can change quickly – and nothing is going to be back to 100% tuesday. This will be gradual.#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) May 20, 2021

There are 331 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in B.C., including 113 patients in intensive care.

A total of 2,687,360 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the province, 138,906 of which are second doses.

Kids aged 12 to 17 can now register to receive a vaccine. A parent or guardian who has already booked an appointment for themselves can take their kids aged 12 to 17 with them to also receive a dose. Eligible children can also book their own appointments.

Asked why clinics won’t be run in schools, Henry said that approach requires a lot of heavy lifting.

“It takes a lot of resources to go into every single school in a very short period of time, and that would not have been able to be done equitably across especially some of our larger health authorities, where our clinics are established and ready to ramp up to have families come,” she said.

Q – what about kids/ families with many barriers to getting a shot
DBH Looking at after school hours and having clinics open on weekends. @adriandix says many clinics on weekends and into evenings. That will be expanded as needed for youth#bcpoli @news1130 #covid19

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) May 20, 2021