Northern Vancouver Island鈥檚 Medical Health Officer Dr. Charmaine Enns is speaking out on the recent 鈥渦ptick鈥� in detected COVID-19 cases on the Island鈥檚 north end.
The rise in detected cases in the Vancouver Island North Local Health Area has 鈥渦nderstandably resulted in anxiety for many community members,鈥� said Enns in statement addressed to the North Island communities. 鈥淗owever, Public Health is not observing evidence of widespread community transmission. Rather, the vast majority of cases are linked to known cases and clusters and are typically the result of close contact in households.
鈥淚t is also important to understand that the availability and high uptake of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines has dramatically reduced severe outcomes related to COVID-19 infection and has provided the path out of this pandemic.鈥�
Enns said the purpose of the COVID-19 vaccine is not to eliminate infections, but rather to 鈥渄ecrease serious outcomes from the infection 鈥� severe disease, hospitalizations and death.鈥�
She added that a large percentage of fully vaccinated people will not get COVID-19 when exposed to someone who is infectious.
鈥淔or the small number of fully vaccinated individuals who do become symptomatic from COVID-19 infection, they will most likely have mild symptoms and are less able to transmit the virus to others.鈥�
As for public health recommendations, Enns confirmed they are evolving as we move towards new phases of this pandemic.
鈥淔ully vaccinated close contacts are no longer asked to self-isolate, instead [they are] being asked to self-monitor for symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e encourage fully vaccinated close contacts to return to normal daily activities such as going to school and work.鈥�
鈥淓ssentially, if you are not directed to self-isolate or seek testing and you are not experiencing symptoms, you can carry on with life as normal!鈥�
The North Island (Woss-north) has 86 per cent of the population 12 years and older with at least one dose of vaccine. Eighty per cent of those 12 and up are fully immunized.
鈥淭hese rates are good, but in order to get in front of COVID-19 transmission, especially due to the delta variant, we need a vaccination rate of 90 per cent or greater.鈥�
However, for adults who are not vaccinated, she warned that COVID-19 remains a very serious infection, noting that if you are an unvaccinated adult, you are 10 times more likely to become infected, 57 times more likely to be hospitalized and 47 times more likely to die from COVID-19.
鈥淚 strongly urge unvaccinated adults to not only consider their own health but the health of their loved ones, friends and community by limiting the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission through being vaccinated.鈥�
editor@northislandgazette.com
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