Brightside Community Homes Foundation
#300 – 905 West Pender Street,
Vancouver, B.C.
V6C 1L6

P: (604) 684 3515
F: (604) 684 3677

Brightside COVID-19 Brief #17

June 11, 2021

 

Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix had an exciting announcement on May 25th regarding British Columbia’s Provincial Restart Plan. In step with increasing vaccination rates and decreasing COVID-19 case counts throughout the province, we can all look forward to cautious relaxation of provincial health regulations, and greater opportunities for the social interaction we crave.

 

In this Brightside Brief, we will be looking at the four-stepped Provincial Restart Plan as well as information on second doses and Vancouver Coastal Health’s transportation support program. We will also look at what to expect in the coming weeks and months in terms of Brightside planning the return to regular operations.

 

More importantly, we want to thank you, the resident community, for your continued efforts to keep each other safe, for being kind, understanding and supportive, and for demonstrating that we truly are in this together. As more of us receive our vaccinations and as case counts continue to decline, we can start to look forward to a brighter summer. We hope you share our optimism for the weeks ahead.

 

In the meantime, as always, if you are experiencing extraordinary hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we invite you to contact our office by phone or by email as we may be able to provide assistance. You can contact us by email at info@brightsidehomes.ca, or leaving a voicemail at 604-684-3515 for more information.

 

We continue to request that residents confirmed to have COVID-19 inform Brightside immediately. Your privacy is of paramount importance to Brightside and this information will be taken in confidence to help ensure protective measures are taken.

 

Sincerely,
BRIGHTSIDE COMMUNITY HOMES FOUNDATION

 

BC Provincial Restart Plan

BC’s Restart is a careful, four-step plan to bring B.C. back together. Starting May 25, we can gradually begin to restart our important social connections, businesses and activities. Getting vaccinated is the most important tool supporting our restart.

 

Diagram explaining step 1 of the BC Restart Plan, which starts on May 25. IMAGE TEXT: Earliest Start Date - June 15 • Minimum 65% of 18+ population vaccinated with first dose • Declining case counts and COVID-19 hospitalizations • Physical distancing and masks continue to be required in public indoor settings Personal gatherings: o Outdoor personal gatherings up to 50 people (birthday parties, backyard BBQs, block parties) o Indoor personal gatherings up to 5 people or 1 other household Organized/business gatherings: o Outdoor seated organized gatherings up to 50 people with a COVID-19 Safety Plan o Indoor or outdoor religious worship services of up to 50 people that follow COVID-19 safety rules o Indoor and outdoor dining for groups up to 6 people (not restricted to your household or bubble)

 

Diagram explaining step 2 of the BC Restart Plan, which starts on June 15. IMAGE TEXT: Earliest Start Date - June 15 • Minimum 65% of 18+ population vaccinated with first dose • Declining case counts and COVID-19 hospitalizations • Physical distancing and masks continue to be required in public indoor settings Personal gatherings: o Outdoor personal gatherings up to 50 people (birthday parties, backyard BBQs, block parties) o Indoor personal gatherings up to 5 people or 1 other household Organized/business gatherings: o Outdoor seated organized gatherings up to 50 people with a COVID-19 Safety Plan o Indoor or outdoor religious worship services of up to 50 people that follow COVID-19 safety rules o Indoor and outdoor dining for groups up to 6 people (not restricted to your household or bubble)

 

Diagram explaining step 3 of the BC Restart Plan, which will start on July 1 at the earliest. IMAGE TEXT: Earliest Start Date – July 1 • Minimum 70% of 18+ population vaccinated with first dose • Low case counts and declining COVID-19 hospitalizations • Masks are recommended in public indoor settings • Engage in careful social contact Personal gatherings: o Return to usual for indoor and outdoor personal gatherings Organized/business gatherings: o No group limit for indoor and outdoor dining o Increased capacity at both indoor and outdoor organized gatherings with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place o Fairs and festivals can operate with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place Travel: o Canada-wide recreational travel permitted

 

Diagram explaining step 4 of the BC Restart Plan, which will start on September 7 at the earliest. IMAGE TEXT: Earliest Start Date – September 7 • More than 70% of 18+ population vaccinated with first dose • Low case counts and low COVID-19 hospitalizations • This will be the last step in our return to “normal,” where most activities will return to pre-COVID regulation. More detailed information will be available closer to the September 7th date.

 

For more details on the BC Restart Plan, please visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restart

 

For more information on the current Province-Wide Restrictions as ordered by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, please visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions

 

Remember: If you or anyone in your family feels sick, stay home and get tested immediately.

 

COVID-19 Vaccination – Information & Resources

 

Everyone over the age of 12 is now eligible to receive their vaccine.

 

REMINDER: You must register on the provincial system before you get your vaccination.

 

Register Online:

www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca
 

 
Register by Phone:

1-833-838-2323

 

Second Doses: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca

 

If you received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, you have a choice to get a second dose of the same vaccine, or you can choose to have an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine instead. Dr. Henry said this approach is safe and effective. It is based on scientific evidence and under the guidance of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and B.C.’s immunization committee.

 

If you received your vaccine at a pharmacy, the pharmacy will contact you to book your second AstraZeneca appointment. Please don’t contact the pharmacies to book – they will contact you.

 

If you decide to have an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine instead, you’ll be able to book online for an appointment at one of the mass vaccination clinics. Starting Monday, everyone who received the AstraZeneca vaccine will be notified eight weeks after their first dose to book their second vaccine. Once you receive this invitation, you can book your vaccine.

 

This information is also available from VCH here.

 

Getting Vaccinated

 

If you attended the drop-in vaccination clinic at the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 11/12, you must still register on the provincial system and book your second dose independently.

 

Brightside brings you details on where to access the resources and information you need to get vaccinated. We have also been working with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and other organizations to help establish the basis for transportation support (including HandyDART and TransLink public transit) to vaccination clinics. Visit http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine/transportation for more information on accessing transportation support through VCH.

 

Note that Brightside is not able to arrange vaccination clinics specifically for Brightside residents, and cannot register residents or book appointments for their vaccination. If you are having difficulty accessing the support you need get your vaccination, we encourage you to contact Vancouver Coastal Health directly.

 

Brightside Office and Operations Updates

 

Office Closure

 

Brightside is currently only meeting residents in the office on an appointment basis. Brightside staff are not available at the office to meet with residents on a drop-in basis at this time. Residents are encouraged to either leave a voicemail at 604-684-3515 or contact us by email at info@brightsidehomes.ca for all matters. The team is working hard to ensure we respond to all enquiries as soon as possible. We are planning a reopening of the office for early 2022.

 

Operations Update

 

Residents continue to be able to submit repair requests for regular repairs, as well as emergency repairs. Submitting a signed repair request gives permission for trades and/or Brightside staff to enter your unit. If you are not yet comfortable with staff/tradespeople entering your unit at this time, you may deny access to your home.

 

Out of an abundance of caution, locked amenity rooms will remain closed and are not available for booking at this time. We will reassess the situation as we approach Step 4 of the BC Restart Plan.

 

Be COVID-Kind

 

Please remember that masks are still required in common areas of all Brightside buildings, as well as in all public indoor spaces.

 

All residents are asked to continue wearing masks at this time, even if you have been fully vaccinated.

 

Brightside Welcomes Arsad Baria to the Team

 

Arsad Baria, Tenancy Coordinator

 

We are delighted to introduce Arsad Baria. Arsad has been working with Brightside part-time as the Tenancy Coordinator on the Operations team. Arsad brings 15+ years hands-on experience with tenancy and mediation, and has a strong working knowledge of the Residential Tenancy Act. Before coming to Brightside, Arsad worked with St. Paul’s Advocacy Office as a Legal Advocate for tenants, and the West End Seniors Network. He has a strong passion for Brightside’s mission and is thrilled to be working with the Brightside community.  His passions include a commitment to organizations that support seniors and our local communities. His interests include bicycling in the great outdoors, socializing, cultures, and languages.



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