"To flatten the curve, we must ensure our health system is robust and fully able to address the unparalleled challenges of COVID-19. We must also take care of our front-line workers so they can care for us, protect and support our most vulnerable, and do all we can to keep our firewall strong.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VICTORIA – BC’s moderate rise of cases continued on Thursday as Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, announced 34 new cases, for a total of 1,370 cases in British Columbia.

"Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 626 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 508 are in the Fraser Health region, 82 are in the Island Health region, 130 are in the Interior Health region and 24 are in the Northern Health region,” they said

"We are saddened to report two new COVID-19 related deaths, one in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and one in Fraser Health region, for a total of 50 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones.

"There have been no new long-term care outbreaks in the last day, and the outbreak at Villa Cathay facility has been declared over. Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health teams continue to provide support to the 20 remaining affected long-term care and assisted-living facilities, which have a combined 235 cases of COVID-19.

"To date, 858 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered and no longer require isolation.

"Of the total COVID-19 cases, 132 individuals are currently hospitalized, 68 of those are in intensive care and the remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

"To flatten the curve, we must ensure our health system is robust and fully able to address the unparalleled challenges of COVID-19. We must also take care of our front-line workers so they can care for us, protect and support our most vulnerable, and do all we can to keep our firewall strong.

"This is a challenging time for all of us - physically, emotionally and mentally - especially when our meaningful connections are virtual connections. There are many resources available and, as the Province announced today, more are on the way. If you are struggling and need help, please reach out.

"This holiday weekend is not the time for travel, unless absolutely necessary. Rather, let's make it an 'unwind and be kind' weekend at home. There are lots of things we can do to relax, have fun and connect with family, friends and our local community at a safe distance.

"Residents at long-term care and assisted-living homes are very vulnerable to COVID-19. One of the most important things we can do to protect them, and those caring for them, is to make it possible for workers to provide services at a single facility, reducing the risk of virus transmission between facilities.

"Using orders under the Public Health and Emergency Programs acts, we have implemented a process to support workers to work at a single facility. This includes development of a new labour agreement that ensures all workers - at health authority, non-profit and private facilities - receive an equitable wage and work-hours scheduling stability so they can work at a single site without disrupting services for residents.

"Long-term care and assisted living care-giving and support staff are responding courageously to monumental challenges during this unprecedented time, and deserve our respect and support."

B.C. COVID-19 Response Update

Cases:

* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 1370

* New cases since April 8, 2020: 34

* Hospitalized cases: 132

* Intensive care: 68

* COVID-19 related deaths: 50

* Recovered: 858

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

Confirmed cases by region:

* Vancouver Coastal Health: 626

* Fraser Health: 508

* Island Health: 82

* Interior Health: 130

* Northern Health: 24

New provincial advice and measures:

* NEW: Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, has issued the following order:

"Using orders under the Public Health and Emergency Programs Acts, the government has implemented a process to support workers to work at a single facility. This includes development of a new labour agreement that ensures all workers - at health authority, non-profit and private facilities - receive an equitable wage and work-hours scheduling stability so they can work at a single site without resident service disruption."

* NEW: Teachers find new, fun ways to connect with students during COVID-19 pandemic: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EDUC0028-000672

* NEW: Applications open for temporary rental supplement: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020MAH0050-000669

* NEW: Stay safe by staying home over the long weekend: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0019-000671

* NEW: New virtual mental health supports for COVID-19 on the way: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020MMHA0009-000655

* NEW: Carole James, Minister of Finance, has issued statement on the release of Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey for March 2020: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020FIN0019-000666

* NEW: Joint statement by the Ministers of Health for British Columbia and Alberta: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0127-000665

* NEW: Expect traffic disruptions on Highway 7 during long weekend: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020TRAN0055-000658

* NEW: Work has resumed on the Highway 1 Illecillewaet four-laning project with enhanced safety precautions in place for workers to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020TRAN0054-000654

* NEW: Provincial Health Services Authority release on COVID-19 Testing Guidelines for British Columbia: http://www.bccdc.ca/resource-gallery/Documents/Statistics%20and%20Research/Statistics%20and%20Reports/Epid/Influenza%20and%20Respiratory/ERV/BCCDC_PHL_Updated_nCoV_Lab_Guidance.pdf

* Office of the Provincial Health Officer COVID-19 Ethical Decision-Making Framework:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/covid-19/ethics_framework_for_covid_march_28_2020.pdf

* Latest COVID-19 updates and statements: https://news.gov.bc.ca/Search?q=COVID-19

* Critical care and acute care hospitalization modelling information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COVID19_Technical_Briefing_Condensed.pdf

New travel/federal measures:

* NEW: Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on the release of national modelling on the COVID-19 epidemic in Canada:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2020/04/statement-from-the-chief-public-health-officer-of-canada-on-the-release-of-national-modelling-on-the-covid-19-epidemic-in-canada.html

* NEW: COVID-19 in Canada: Using data and modelling to inform public health action:

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/using-data-modelling-inform-eng.pdf

* NEW: Lockdown at Mission Institution, B.C. - Medium Security Unit:

https://www.canada.ca/en/correctional-service/news/2020/04/lockdown-at-mission-institution--medium-security-unit.html

* NEW: CRTC update on its proceedings further to COVID-19 pandemic:

https://www.canada.ca/en/radio-television-telecommunications/news/2020/04/crtc-update-on-its-proceedings-further-to-covid-19-pandemic.html

* For Government of Canada COVID-19 travel advice:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html