B.C. Tories call out Liberals on COVID-19 response

Dec 31, 2020 | 6:00 AM

The Conservative Party of B.C. is accusing the province of dropping the ball on COVID-19, while patting itself on the back for a job well done.

Premier John Horgan released a long list of COVID related responses by government, on Tuesday.

A visibly shaken Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s Public Health Officer, announced the latest figures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the 5-day reporting period of December 24^th to 29, Bonnie Henry noted there had been a further 74 deaths due to complications from COVID-19. She also indicated there had been a further 8 outbreaks in long term, assisted living, and acute care facilities.

“Our research shows that in the past two weeks there have in fact been 224 deaths.” Conservative BC leader Trevor Bolin said. “There are currently 56 outbreaks in our hospitals and seniors care facilities. This is not acceptable.”

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Premier John Horgan announced in a news release that the province had taken unprecedented action to protect seniors and deliver better, faster care in 2020 to keep people safe, healthy and secure’. Part of that announcement also noted the hiring of, 7,000 new health-care workers in long-term care homes and 1,200 contact tracers to help stop further spread in the community.

“These numbers I have just noted will have British Columbians wondering as to their accuracy however,” Bolin said.

Bolin notes that if 7,000 additional workers have been hired that would be roughly two dozen per care home in B.C., something he contends hasn’t happened. The party wants a return to family visitation in B.C. care homes.

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure enhanced safety measures, along with enhanced cleaning procedures and increased COVID screening and testing to catch potential transmissions before they happen,” Bolin stated.

by Kevin Rothwell

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