Peace River South Liberal MLA tests positive for COVID-19
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A B.C. Liberal MLA and his family have tested positive for COVID-19.
Mike Bernier, who represents Peace River South and is former Mayor of Dawson Creek, made the announcement on his Twitter yesterday (Sunday), saying he and his family are now in isolation.
“This came as a shock to all of us as we have been following all the public health guidelines, such as physical distancing, wearing masks, and avoiding indoor gatherings,” he said in his statement.
Bernier says he was exposed prior to being vaccinated on April 26, and public health officials told him he was not infectious when at the Legislature from April 19-22.
Dirk Meissner
Dr. Bonnie Henry talks about phase two in B.C. s COVID-19 immunization plan as Premier John Horgan and Minister Arian Dix look on during a press conference at Legislature in Victoria, B.C., Monday, March 1, 2021. The expected arrival of more than one million COVID-19 vaccine doses this month has British Columbia health officials forecasting shorter waits between first and second doses for more people. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito May 03, 2021 - 5:54 PM
VICTORIA - British Columbia health officials say shorter wait times between first and second COVID-19 vaccine shots for people are expected with the arrival of more than one million doses in May.
Also Monday, the Opposition Liberals say the party’s finance critic, Mike Bernier, is self-isolating after likely contracting COVID-19 on his return home to Dawson Creek, a community recently declared a pandemic hot zone.
Liberal house leader Peter Milobar says Bernier, who represents Peace River South, is self-isolating after he and members of his family tested positive for COVID-19.
“I talked to Mike last night and he said they were all doing well and seemed to be in good spirits, and although it’s definitely impacted them, they are obviously not … one of the more what you would consider severe cases out there,” he said in an interview on Monday.
B.C. Liberal Party MLA for Peace River South, Mike Bernier
DAWSON CREEK, B.C. – Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier has tested positive for COVID-19.
Bernier issued a statement Sunday evening stating that his family and himself have tested positive. According to his statement, everyone is self-isolating. “We are all presently self-isolating and currently, everyone is doing well. This came as a shock to all of us as we have been following all the public health guidelines, such as physical distancing, wearing masks, and avoiding indoor gatherings.”
Bernier received this first dose of the vaccine on April 26, but health officials have told him he was exposed before being vaccinated. Bernie was not infectious when he was at the B.C. Legislature from April 19 to 22.
He says he was not infectious when he was at the legislature between April 19 and 22.
Bernier notes that while he was vaccinated the week of April 26, public health officials tell him he was exposed to the virus before getting the shot.
British Columbia has been grappling with a surge of COVID-19 cases fuelled by more contagious variants of the virus, though recent modelling suggests transmission is starting to slow down.
Bernier says his family’s test results came as a shock, because he says they’ve been following all public health guidelines.
“I want to encourage everyone to get their vaccination as soon as possible,” he said on Twitter. “I caught the virus while following all protocols. The vaccine any of the vaccines available offer an added layer of protection. It well help all of us get back to a normal life.”