Beginning Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, emergency operation centres (EOCs) will be reactivated in health authorities to ensure patients continue to have access to the hospital care services they need as respiratory illness season continues in B.C.

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, has issued the following statement on actions being taken by the federal government to protect Canadians from COVID-19:

The Mid-Year Progress Report on B.C.’s Surgical Renewal Commitment to patients shows that surgery volumes are exceeding pre-pandemic levels, and almost all surgeries postponed by multiple waves of COVID-19 have now been completed.

People living in long-term-care and assisted-living facilities will continue receiving high-quality care from fairly compensated workers as the Province renews its commitment to temporarily fund wage increases for staff working in the sector.

More than 77,500 people were vaccinated against influenza from Dec. 5 to Dec. 11, 2022, including 42,582 people who were vaccinated during the weekend’s influenza-vaccine walk-in clinic blitz.

Several health authority clinics throughout the province are offering additional walk-in influenza immunizations on Dec. 9, 10 and 11, 2022, as part of government’s efforts to support people and families with children to get vaccinated before the holidays.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, has released the following statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women:

Public-health officials are asking all British Columbians to get their influenza and COVID-19 immunizations as soon as possible, as rates of respiratory illnesses are on the rise throughout the province.

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, has issued the following statement in recognition of national nurse practitioners’ week from Nov. 13-19, 2022: