A poultry company’s negligence that has led to a break out of COVID-19 infections  at their Vancouver and Coquitlam operations has led to a spike up of positive cases in BC. As of Tuesday, 46 employees have now been confirmed positive at Superior Poultry in Coquitlam, and 34 employees are confirmed positive at United Poultry in Vancouver.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VICTORIA – A poultry company’s negligence that has led to a break out of COVID-19 infections  at their Vancouver and Coquitlam operations has led to a spike up of positive cases in BC.

As of Tuesday, 46 employees have now been confirmed positive at Superior Poultry in Coquitlam, and 34 employees are confirmed positive at United Poultry in Vancouver.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, announced 55 new cases and two more deaths for a total of 2,053 cases in British Columbia.

"Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 803 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 918 are in the Fraser Health region, 119 are in the Island Health region, 168 are in the Interior Health region and 45 are in the Northern Health region,” they said in a joint statement.

"We are saddened to report two new COVID-19 related deaths: one in the Interior Health region and one in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, for a total of 105 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones.

"There have been no new long-term care or assisted-living facility outbreaks. In total, 20 facilities and three acute-care units have active outbreaks, with outbreaks now declared over at 12 care facilities.

"Public health teams are also providing support to a number of community outbreaks, actively contact tracing those who may be directly affected and their close contacts.

"As of today, 46 employees have now been confirmed positive at Superior Poultry in Coquitlam, and 34 employees are confirmed positive at United Poultry in Vancouver.

"There are also 120 inmates and staff confirmed positive at the Mission Institution federal correctional centre, as well as 11 positive cases of COVID-19 connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta.

PHOTO By Sukhwant Singh Dhillon / DESIBUZZCanada

"Anyone who has been in Kearl Lake since March 24, or is a close contact of a worker and who has symptoms of COVID-19, is required to immediately self-isolate and should be tested. Visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website for information on a collection centre near you, or contact 811 or public health for information on testing.

"To date, 1,231 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered.

"Of the total COVID-19 cases, 94 individuals are currently hospitalized, 37 of those are in intensive care and the remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

"Our first priority is to ensure the health of all British Columbians. Every decision, every order and restriction is based on a comprehensive risk assessment focused on containing COVID-19.

"We use science as a foundation for our thinking, while recognizing that the actions we take also have significant social, financial and emotional implications.

"It is a delicate balance, as demonstrated by the co-ordinated efforts to maintain learning for K-12 students throughout the province, while putting measures in place to protect students and teachers from transmission.

"We must do all we can to ensure this as we develop our made-in-B.C. framework and create a 'new normal' for British Columbians.

"While we look ahead, we must all remember that our vulnerable citizens are still vulnerable. Our Elders and seniors, as well as those with underlying health conditions, are at highest risk of severe illness and we must continue to protect them.

"We must also ensure the capacity and tools we have developed within our health-care system to rapidly respond to an outbreak today are maintained.

"What is important not to lose sight of is that we all have a role to play. The decisions you make today will affect all of us tomorrow.

"Personal hygiene, safe physical distancing, staying away from others when ill. These are the core tenants of public health and the foundation of our path forward.

"Our personal health precautions are directly correlated to the epidemiological curve. Let's get this right and continue to do the right thing."

B.C. COVID-19 Response Update

Cases:

* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 2,053

* New cases since April 27, 2020: 55

* Hospitalized cases: 94

* Intensive care: 37

* COVID-19 related deaths: 105

* Recovered: 1,231

* Long-term care and assisted-living homes currently affected: 20

* Acute-care unit outbreaks: 3

Confirmed cases by region:

* Vancouver Coastal Health: 803

* Fraser Health: 918

* Island Health: 119

* Interior Health: 168

* Northern Health: 45

New provincial advice and measures:

* Food trucks are being set up at provincially owned locations throughout B.C. to support commercial truck drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic:

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020TRAN0061-000772

* Premier John Horgan released the following statement in recognition of the National Day of Mourning for workers killed and injured in the workplace: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0021-000767

New federal measures:

* Prime Minister releases joint statement by First Ministers for restarting the economy:

https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/04/28/prime-minister-releases-joint-statement-first-ministers-restarting

* Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with British Columbia Premier John Horgan to discuss the evolving COVID-19 situation:

https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/readouts/2020/04/27/prime-minister-justin-trudeau-speaks-british-columbia-premier-john-horgan