COVID-19 Update for January 14, 2022
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, for an update on COVID-19, including the Province’s latest epidemiological modelling.

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Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discusses the federal government’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of the Omicron variant. He is joined by federal ministers Jean-Yves Duclos (health), Filomena Tassi (public services and procurement) and Mary Ng (international trade). Responding to questions from reporters, the prime minister comments on Quebec's announcement that it is considering a financial penalty for residents who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Afghanistan and other issues.

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Businesses that were ordered to fully close on Dec. 22, 2021, including bars, nightclubs and lounges that do not serve full meals, gyms, fitness and adult dance centres and event venues that can no longer hold events, can apply for relief grants of between $1,000 and $10,000. Funds from the program, which is expected to support more than 3,000 businesses, can help with expenses such as rent, employee wages, insurance, maintenance and utilities.

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Last week, more than 15 million new cases of COVID-19 were reported to WHO from around the world – by far the most cases reported in a single week – and we know this is an underestimate.

This huge spike in infections is being driven by the Omicron variant, which is rapidly replacing Delta in almost all countries. 

However, the number of weekly reported deaths has remained stable since October last year, at an average of 48 thousand deaths a week.

While the number of patients being hospitalized is increasing in most countries, it is not at the level seen in previous waves. 

This is possibly due to the reduced severity of Omicron, as well as widespread immunity from vaccination or previous infection.But let’s be clear: while Omicron causes less severe disease than Delta, it remains a dangerous virus, particularly for those who are unvaccinated.

Almost 50 thousand deaths a week is 50 thousand deaths too many. 

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Washington D.C. 12 January 2022 (PAHO) – With COVID-19 infections accelerating in the Americas and the detection of the Omicron variant in at least 42 countries and territories in the region, the Pan American Health Organization Director Carissa F. Etienne has called on countries to ensure health workers have access to protective equipment and additional COVID-19 vaccine doses where available.

As cases jump three-fold in some countries, the region’s ability to respond to the current wave depends on the personnel that keep primary health care centers, clinics and hospitals up and running.

“We must make sure they are protected from the worst consequences of this virus,” she said in a media briefing today.

Over the past week, countries in the Americas reported 6.1 million new cases of COVID-19 – a 250% increase from the same period last year.

Thanks to increased vaccination in the region, the COVID-19 death rate remains stable but the hike in emergency room visits and hospitalizations has left many health systems struggling to cope.

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Join Adrian Dix, Minister of Health and Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer, for an update on COVID-19.

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On Parliament Hill, John Brassard, the Conservative critic for ethics and accountable government, and Pierre Paul-Hus, the party’s critic for public services and procurement, discuss the Public Health Agency of Canada’s decision to collect data from millions of mobile devices to understand travel patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the House of Commons is not scheduled to resume until January 31, opposition parties are calling for the ethics committee to convene emergency meetings to investigate the matter. The MPs also answer questions from reporters about their party’s position on COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

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Businesses ordered fully closed include:

gyms, fitness and adult dance centres
bars, lounges and nightclubs
event venues that can no longer hold events
Relief grants of between $1,000 and $10,000 will be provided to eligible businesses based on their number of employees, following the similar formula to the previous Circuit Breaker Relief Grant that supported businesses in the spring of 2021.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the COVID-19 situation. He announces the federal government is temporarily expanding eligibility for the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit and the Local Lockdown Program amid the implementation of new restrictions across the country. He also announces that three members of his staff and three members of his security detail have tested positive for COVID-19, but says he has so far tested negative. The prime minister is joined by federal ministers Chrystia Freeland (finance), Jean-Yves Duclos (health) and Carla Qualtrough (employment). Also taking part in the news conference are Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, and Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer, who provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic and the Omicron variant.

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