British Columbia has reported one-thousand-308 new cases of COVID-19 as the province brings in tighter restrictions and prepares for cancelled surgeries. Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry also announced plans to expand rapid testing and booster shot programs to help stem the surging wave of infections. Officials say 756 cases of the Omicron variant of concern have been identified so far in the province, where more than 63-hundred infections were active on Tuesday. There has been one more death for a total of two-thousand-403 fatalities. Henry says it is inevitable now that most people in B-C will be exposed to Omicron at some point as it overtakes Delta as the dominant variant. In response, bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness centres and dance studios will have to close starting Wednesday, with seated events reduced to 50 per cent capacity. Health Minister Adrian Dix says scheduled surgeries will be postponed starting January 4th to manage hospital capacity, but urgent and emergency care will continue. Officials say 87.5 per cent of all eligible people aged five and up have had their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 82.7 have received their second shot.
