SINCE Friday, British Columbia has had 131 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including one epi-linked case, for a total of 4,065 cases. However, thankfully, there have been no new deaths, and the total number of deaths still remains at 195 in the province.
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer announced on Monday: “Today, we are providing case updates for three 24-hour reporting periods. In the first reporting period from August 7-8, we had 50 new cases; August 8-9 we had 37 new cases; and in the last 24 hours, we have had a further 44 new cases.”
There are 445 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 3,425 people who tested positive have recovered.
Currently, nine individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, three of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,220 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 2,139 in the Fraser Health region, 148 in the Island Health region, 391 in the Interior Health region, 96 in the Northern Health region and 71 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
There have been two new health-care facility outbreaks at New Vista Care Home and at George Derby Centre in the Fraser Health region. In total, seven long-term care or assisted living facilities and one acute care facility have active outbreaks.
There are no new community outbreaks. However, there continue to be community exposure events around the province and on flights in and out of British Columbia.
Alerts are posted on the BC Centre for Disease Control website, as well as on health authority websites, providing details on where the potential exposure occurred and what actions you need to take – whether you need to immediately self-isolate, or monitor for symptoms.
Dix and Henry once again appealed to British Columbians to “stay safe by playing safe.”
They pointed out: “Our layers of protection reduce the spread of COVID-19 and help all of us stay safe – whether at work, at school or out with friends.
“As we increase our time with others and restart activities, spending more time with others can be a source of anxiety for many. In particular, some parents and families may be worried about the restart of in-class learning this fall.
“It is important to remember that the layers of protection we use at work, at the grocery store and in restaurants will also be used in our schools. Limiting time with others, using one-way pathways, cleaning more, washing our hands regularly and always staying home if we are feeling unwell are important measures that will be used in our schools.
“Each school and school districts are now taking the plan that has been developed and applying it to their schools, ensuring the layers of protection are there from the first day to the last day of the school year.
“As children prepare for back to school, to see their friends and continue learning, public health teams will be right there with them – in every school around the province.
“The same precautions that will be applied in our schools also need to continue to be top of mind this summer.
“If you are invited to a party or social event, and something doesn’t feel right, then it isn’t right for you or for your friends. It only takes one person with COVID-19 to cause a surge in new cases and for hundreds of people to be in self-isolation.
“You don’t have to go along to get along. Rather, invite your family and friends to instead join you to have safe social interactions this summer.
“If you’re at a nearby patio and the location is crowded, keep walking and choose another spot instead. Now is not the time to bend the rules, but to stay safe by playing safe.
“COVID-19 is going to be in our community for some time to come. And while it remains in B.C., we need to keep it low and slow. Now is the time do the right thing and help your friends and family do the same.”
