BC’s daily caseload again went below 30 cases on Thursday even though it was confirmed that poultry processing plan that added to Wednesday’s high of 71 cases had more spread to one of their other processing plants after negligence at the Vancouver plant. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, announced 29 new infections and four new deaths for a total of 1,824 cases in British Columbia.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VICTORIA – BC’s daily caseload again went below 30 cases on Thursday even though it was confirmed that the poultry processing plan that added to Wednesday’s high of 71 cases had more spread to one of their other processing plants after negligence at the Vancouver plant.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, announced 29 new infections and four new deaths for a total of 1,824 cases in British Columbia.

"Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 755 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 760 are in the Fraser Health region, 111 are in the Island Health region, 156 are in the Interior Health region and 42 are in the Northern Health region,” they said.

"We are saddened to report four new COVID-19 related deaths in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health regions, for a total of 94 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones.

"There have been one new outbreak at Orchard Manor at Hawthorn Park in the Interior Health region. There are also two new acute-care outbreaks: one at Ridge Meadows Hospital in the Fraser Health region and one at Lions Gate Hospital in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. In total, 20 facilities and three acute-care units have active outbreaks, with outbreaks declared over at 10 care facilities.

"Public health teams are also providing support to a number of community outbreaks.

"A second poultry facility, Superior Poultry in Coquitlam, has two confirmed cases of COVID-19. Fraser Health public health teams are working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, who is responsible for this facility to manage the outbreak and support with active contact tracing.

"In addition to the new cases at Superior Poultry, as of today, 29 employees have now been confirmed positive at the United Poultry Company in Vancouver, and 78 inmates and staff are confirmed positive at the Mission Institution federal correctional centre.

"To date, 1,092 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered and no longer require isolation.

"Of the total COVID-19 cases, 103 individuals are currently hospitalized, 44 of those are in intensive care and the remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

"A new public health order and guidance for agriculture, aquaculture, forestry and natural resources sectors are being provided to industry today to protect the safety of workers and communities as we manage through this pandemic.

"The challenge for all of us right now is to recognize that COVID-19 will be in our communities for many months to come.

"What this means, is that in order for us to get to a point where we can ease restrictions in B.C., we have to reach a manageable number of new cases: one that does not overwhelm our health-care system, so we can continue to provide the best care possible for all those who are ill.

"It is a careful balance, and as we have seen with the recent increase in community outbreaks, it is a balance that is difficult to find.

"A misstep in the wrong direction puts us all at risk. A playdate for your children, a gathering with friends, non-essential travel - any of these actions exponentially increase potential exposures to COVID-19 for ourselves and those we care for most.

"This is not forever. We will get through this hurricane in the safest, best way possible. But now is most certainly not the time to tip the scales against us. Rather, it is a time for patience and resilience, to demonstrate to each other that in the face of our pandemic, we are standing strong."

B.C. COVID-19 Response Update

Cases:

* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 1,824

* New cases since April 22, 2020: 29

* Hospitalized cases: 103

* Intensive care: 44

* COVID-19 related deaths: 94

* Recovered: 1,092

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

* Acute-care unit outbreaks: 3

Confirmed cases by region:

* Vancouver Coastal Health: 755

* Fraser Health: 760

* Island Health: 111

* Interior Health: 156

* Northern Health: 42

New provincial advice and measures:

* More than 2,500 essential service workers have been referred to open child care spaces through the Province's new child care matching process: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020CFD0044-000740

* Applications for the $1,000 B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers will open on May 1: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020FIN0023-000743

New federal measures:

* Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced more than $1 billion in support of a national medical research strategy to fight COVID-19 that includes vaccine development, the production of treatments and tracking of the virus: https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/04/23/prime-minister-announces-new-support-covid-19-medical-research-and