In the first reporting period through April 19, BC had 29 new cases and in the last 24 hours, there were a further 23 new cases, for a total of 1,699 cases in British Columbia. This past weekend saw a total of 52 new infections and five more deaths.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VICTORIA – Low weekend numbers continue optimism in BC that the curve is flattening and a return to open the economy and a semblance of our old normal will return to the province sooner than later.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer provided case updates for two 24-hour reporting periods: April 18 to 19, and April 19 through to midday Monday. 

In the first reporting period through April 19, BC had 29 new cases and in the last 24 hours, there were a further 23 new cases, for a total of 1,699 cases in British Columbia. This past weekend saw a total of 52 new infections and five more deaths.

"Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 700 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 705 are in the Fraser Health region, 102 are in the Island Health region, 153 are in the Interior Health region and 39 are in the Northern Health region,” they said

"We are saddened to report five new COVID-19 related deaths, three in the first reporting period and two since yesterday, for a total of 86 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones.

"There has been one new outbreak at the Chartwell Willow long-term care facility in the last day. In total, 20 long-term care and assisted-living facilities, and one acute-care unit have active outbreaks. Outbreaks have been declared over at six facilities, in addition to the provincial Okanagan Correctional Centre.

"There are now 75 cases of COVID-19 associated with the Mission Institution federal correctional centre. Fraser Health officials continue to work with Correction Services Canada to manage this outbreak.

"We have also seen a number of new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. related to the Kearl Lake project near Fort McMurray, Alberta. Anyone who was at the site from March to present is ordered by the provincial health officer to immediately self-isolate for 14 days and contact your primary care provider, 811 or local public-health teams.

"The guidance we have in place for work camps clearly outlines how to safely operate, and what should be done in the event of a positive case of COVID-19. It is important that employers and workers continue to follow these guidelines to stay safe.

"To date, 1,039 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered and no longer require isolation.

"Of the total COVID-19 cases, 104 individuals are currently hospitalized, 49 of those are in intensive care and the remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

"Today, the Premier announced a new framework to provide additional support to our rural, remote and Indigenous communities. This framework recognizes and proactively supports communities that may have limited access to the level of health care that we find in larger, urban centres.

"The framework provides more in-community support and testing, faster access to primary and urgent care, and other important social supports. This will enhance our province's ability to provide care to all British Columbians and keep our communities safe, as we continue to do all we can to break the chain of transmission.

"As the situation within B.C. evolves, our testing strategy evolves with it. Initially, our approach was to understand the source of transmission by testing returning travellers, in addition to using community surveillance testing through our ongoing influenza response.

"As widespread community transmission occurred, we adjusted our testing to focus on our highest risk and most vulnerable people. This includes outbreaks in long-term care, people who are critically ill and our health-care workers, whose important responsibility it is to care for all of us.

"We are now using testing to help us quickly identify and address any new community clusters and outbreaks that may emerge. We want to avoid another spike in new cases and continue to flatten our curve.

"What this means is that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can now be assessed and tested through a physician, nurse practitioner or a local community collection centre.

"We remind everyone that while testing is now broadly available, not everyone needs a test. If you have no symptoms, the test has limited benefit.

"We are not through the storm. We must remain vigilant to protect loved ones, elders and all of our communities. We will continue to take a slow and thoughtful approach, learning from other jurisdictions that are farther along, while staying alert to changes here in B.C.

"We can only introduce modifications to the orders we have in place with further improvement and with all us remaining 100% committed. Let's stay strong."

B.C. COVID-19 Response Update

Cases:

* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 1,699

* New cases since April 18, 2020: 52

* Hospitalized cases: 104

* Intensive care: 49

* COVID-19 related deaths: 86

* Recovered: 1,039

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

* Acute-care unit outbreaks: 1

Confirmed cases by region:

* Vancouver Coastal Health: 700

* Fraser Health: 705

* Island Health: 102

* Interior Health: 153

* Northern Health: 39

New provincial advice and measures:

* Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, has issued a new order surrounding an outbreak in Kearl Lake, Alberta: "Anyone who was at the site at Kearl Lake project near Fort McMurray, Alberta from March to present is ordered by the provincial health officer to immediately self-isolate for 14 days and contact your local public health authority or call 811."

* Testing is now being used to quickly identify and address any new community clusters and outbreaks that may emerge. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can now be assessed and tested through a physician, nurse practitioner or a local community collection centre. To learn where, when and how people with symptoms can be tested, visit: http://www.phsa.ca/staff-resources/covid-19-resources-for-staff/staff-covid-19-testing

* A new collaborative framework will help ensure people living in rural, remote and Indigenous communities in B.C. have access to critical health care they can count on to meet their unique needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and into the future: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0020-000725

* Education assistants find new ways to help students: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EDUC0031-000723

* The Government of B.C. is partnering with the District of Squamish and Squamish Helping Hands Society to provide 49 new temporary homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the community: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020MAH0052-000714

* COVID-19: Joint Provincial Program Framework for Emergency Response Centres: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/covid-19/covid-19-pho-guidance-joint-povincial-program-framework-for-ercs.pdf

* COVID-19 Guidance to Retail Food and Grocery Stores: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/covid-19/covid-19-pho-guidance-grocery-stores.pdf

* Order of the Provincial Health Officer on Vending Merchandise at Markets: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/covid-19/covid-19-pho-order-vending-merchandise-at-markets.pdf

* Order of the Provincial Health Officer on Personal Services: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/covid-19/covid-19-pho-order-personal-services.pdf

* New ticketing measures to enforce Emergency Program Act orders: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0020-000717

* The latest modelling presentation and information is available online: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COVID19_Update_Modelling-BROADCAST.pdf

New federal measures:

  • The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has provided an online space, Pandemic Info Share, to enable businesses and organizations to share their pandemic-related good practices and resources: https://www.canada.ca/en/centre-occupational-health-safety/news/2020/04/website-enables-sharing-of-pandemic-resources-and-good-practices.html