The COVID-19 update Friday showed that the situation in BC is getting worse as the number of cases have nearly quadrupled in a single week to 348 with another big jump of 77 new cases since Thursday.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

VICTORIA – The COVID-19 update Friday showed that the situation in BC is getting worse as the number of cases have nearly quadrupled in a single week to 348 with another big jump of 77 new cases since Thursday.

Bc Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer said another Care Centre worker has tested positive for the virus.

"Of the new cases, one patient is a health-care worker at the Dufferin Care Centre, a long-term care home in Coquitlam. Fraser Health authority public health and infection control teams are on site.

"Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 200 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 95 are in the Fraser Health region, 30 are in the Vancouver Island Health region, 19 are in the Interior Health region and four are in the Northern Health region.

"Additionally, of the total COVID-19 cases, six people have completely recovered, 22 are receiving acute care, 10 are in intensive care and the remaining patients are at home in isolation.

"As the number of cases increases and the pressure on our health-care system intensifies, we would like to acknowledge and thank our health-care workers as they support all those in B.C. who require testing and care for COVID-19.

"In step with World Health Organization recommendations, the Public Health Agency of Canada's National Advisory Committee on Infection Prevention and Control provides clear guidance for all health-care workers to follow. They can be confident that by following these guidelines on appropriate use, we will have sufficient supply of personal protective equipment.

"We need everybody to be aware of the risk in every community and every health region across B.C. And, equally important, because of the incubation period and rapid transmission, the self-isolation and social distancing that we do today will benefit all of us two weeks and two months from now.

"Given the challenges social distancing presents for restaurants, effective immediately, all dine-in food services are prohibited. Restaurants must move to delivery or take-out options only, or close.

"We also want to be clear that while spending time outdoors is important, people still need to stay away from groups in any environment - to prevent bringing the virus into their homes.

"New resources are being made available every day to support everyone in our province as we continue to work to stop the transmission of COVID-19."

Here is the update of cases currently.

* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 348

* New cases since March 19, 2020: 77

* Hospitalized cases: 22

* Intensive care: 10

* Deaths: 8

* Recovered: 6

Confirmed cases by region:

* Vancouver Coastal Health: 200

* Fraser Health: 95

* Island Health: 30

* Interior Health: 19

* Northern Health: 4

Testing:

* 17,912 individuals tested as of March 20, 2020.

* At least 50,000 Canadians have been tested.

* Testing is available for all who need it, but not everyone requires a test.

* If you have no symptoms, mild symptoms or you are a returning traveller self-isolating at home, you do not require a test.

* For each of these situations, the public health advice remains the same, regardless of test results: self-isolate for 14 days to monitor for the development of symptoms or until your symptoms are completely gone.

* Those who have severe illness, require hospitalization, are residents of long-term care facilities or are health-care workers will continue to be tested.

* Anyone part of an active investigation or outbreak cluster will be tested so they can be appropriately monitored.

* If symptoms appear, call your health-care provider or 811 for guidance.

Provincial advice and measures:

* Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, has ordered all restaurants to only offer take-out and/or delivery services to enforce social distancing.

* Henry clarifies direction on social distancing relating to going outside:

* It is safe to go outside to get fresh air, walk pets, ride a bike and exercise while maintaining safe social distances.

* The B.C. government is waiving the Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage wait period for people moving back to B.C. from COVID-19 impacted areas. In addition, the B.C. government is planning to provide health coverage to British Columbians who are out of province and unable to return. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents

Travel:

* Provincial health officer order for travellers: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics

* On March 17, 2020, the federal government announced new measures relating to travel, including:

* Closure of the Canada-U.S. border to all non-essential traffic going into effect Friday, March 20, midnight: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2020/03/us-canada-joint-initiative-temporary-restriction-of-travelers-crossing-the-us-canada-border-for-non-essential-purposes.html

* On March 16, 2020, the federal government announced new measures relating to travel, including:

* banning entry of all foreign nationals by air travel from all countries.

* consolidating international inbound flights to four major hubs only, including Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

* preventing symptomatic passengers from boarding a plane to Canada.

* strengthening in-flight medical procedures and medical screening immediately upon landing, with enhanced cleaning and disinfection at airports.

* support for impacted Canadians abroad.

* 14-day self-isolation for all arrivals except for essential work.

* Global Affairs Canada has set up an emergency loan program for people abroad attempting to return to Canada.

* Public health officials require anyone arriving in B.C from a foreign country to self-isolate for 14 days, staying away from work or school. Guidance for self-isolation is available on the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) website: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing-isolation

• Cruise ship season is delayed until July 1, 2020 (vessels with more than 500 people).