News

As we all know, providing healthcare services in small communities comes with unique challenges. One of these challenges is balancing the services provided in a community, the demand for those services, and the staff needed to keep those services running.

Recently, there have been concerns raised around changes to healthcare services in Fort Nelson. We would like to provide some additional information around these changes and the reasons behind them to help better understand the work underway to reduce impact to health services.

There has been an increase in overdose events in the community of Terrace. The reported substance is dark purple/blue chalky substance, sold as down.

This substance is highly toxic, causes heavy and prolonged sedation, and requires more naloxone to reverse. Overdoses are happening when the substance is smoked and injected.

A new mobile overdose prevention service is now operating in Fort St. John to support people who use substances and help prevent toxic drug poisonings and toxic drug deaths.

As COVID-19 activity increases across B.C., guidance for when to get a COVID-19 test has been updated.

A COVID-19 test is not recommended if:

• You have no symptoms, even if you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive
• You are fully vaccinated (two doses), experiencing mild symptoms and can manage your illness at home. Self-isolate for five days. Notify your close contacts so they can self-monitor for symptoms

A COVID-19 test is recommended if:

Northern Health (NH) is aligning public health orders for Gatherings and Events with COVID-19 restrictions for the rest of BC.

The current NH Gatherings and Events COVID-19 Order has been in place since December 24, 2021, as NH and provincial public health officials have continually evaluated rates of COVID-19 activity, and the impact on health care resources. The north continues to see increases in the number of new COVID cases, while rates of serious illness and hospitalizations have not increased beyond levels seen elsewhere in the province.

Northern Health is planning temporary services adjustments to strengthen patient care due to existing staffing challenges and Omicron related COVID-19 staffing pressures.

**January 8 update to the below information bulletin released yesterday: The booking pause referred to is no longer required, and the additional capacity for upcoming Prince George vaccine clinics at the PG Conference & Civic Centre are available for booking in the Get Vaccinated provincial system, online and by phone. Thank you.**

Northern Health is working to double capacity for COVID-19 vaccinations in Prince George, adding additional clinic days each week and returning to the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre for expanded clinic space.

Northern Health is appreciative of all the assistance we have received to date from health care providers in the North supporting our COVID-19 immunization clinics. This support has been an integral component of Northern Health’s COVID-19 response, administering vaccine doses to mitigate impacts of COVID-19 on our communities and health care system.

Right now Northern Health is seeking help.