When will this COVID-19 scourge end for us in BC? While it could be earlier than the more harder-hit provinces like Ontario and Quebec but no one still knows. And with the lockdown in BC and other countries expected to end on April 14 and international flights to bring back Canadians to resume, we could be hit with more cases of thousands of Canadians coming back home.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VICTORIA – When will this COVID-19 scourge end for us in BC? While it could be earlier than the more harder-hit provinces like Ontario and Quebec but no one still knows. And with the lockdown in BC and other countries expected to end on April 14 and international flights to bring back Canadians to resume, we could be hit with more cases of thousands of Canadians coming back home.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, announced Monday that 63 more cases from the weekend, specifically for the two 24-hour reporting periods of April 4 to 5, and April 5 through to midday Monday which saw 26 new cases from the first reporting period and another 37 new cases from the second reporting period.

"Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 586 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 450 are in the Fraser Health region, 79 are in the Island Health region, 128 are in the Interior Health region and 23 are in the Northern Health region,” they said.

A BC man in his 40s who had tested positive and presumably told to isolate at home, has died. This is BC’s second community death with the first being a dentist in his 60s.

"There have been 39 COVID-19 related deaths in British Columbia. We are saddened to report that we have had a community death of a known COVID-19 case in the Vancouver Coastal health region. The BC Coroners Service is investigating, as is the process for any sudden unexpected death that takes place in community. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones.

"The Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health regions continue to respond to outbreaks and new cases in long-term care and assisted-living facilities, which have a combined 210 cases of COVID-19. Residents in these facilities are our most vulnerable citizens, and efforts to protect them continue to be a major focus of our health teams. Vancouver Coastal Health has one new long-term care facility outbreak, while three outbreaks at long-term care homes in that region have been declared over.

"A new community outbreak of COVID-19 has been detected at a federal correctional centre in Mission. Correctional Service Canada has implemented outbreak response protocols at the facility.

"To date, 783 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered and no longer require isolation.

"Of the total COVID-19 cases, 140 individuals are currently hospitalized, 72 of those are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

"While it is encouraging to see the overall rate of new cases in British Columbia in the last few days levelling, we also continue to see new outbreaks in the community and with vulnerable individuals.

"These hot spots are very concerning, as they can quickly escalate and further challenge our health system - something we have seen in many other parts of the world.

"We must all work to ensure our firewall stays strong and remain united in our efforts to hold the line.

"British Columbians can help to flatten our curve and protect our communities by staying home as much as possible, continuing to follow physical distancing measures when out, and importantly, continuing to support loved ones and others in our communities.

"We recently made a call for British Columbians to donate blood. Volunteers in the Sikh community stepped up in response to our appeal. The Sikh Nation Blood Drive is the largest of its kind in Canada, and it is working with Canadian Blood Services to launch a new blood drive. We thank them, and the many British Columbians who have responded to that call, for their generosity.

"As travellers return, we welcome you home to join us and do your part by following provincial and federal orders to immediately self-isolate for 14 days.

"Let's continue to make a 100% commitment to breaking the chain of transmission."

Across Canada we have 339 fatalities with Ontario having the largest number.

BC is relatively well positioned for acute and ICU beds and with 26 cases on Sunday and 37 reported today our total infections are 1266.

According to Dr. Henry 210 cases have come from outbreaks in senior homes. 21 homes have been involved.

Currently BC has 140 hospitalized with 72 in ICU. These numbers are moving up or down by a few but so far so good.

Here is the picture in rest of Canada :

British Columbia, Canada

Confirmed: 1,266

Deaths: 39

Recovered: 0

Active: 1,165

 

Quebec, Canada

Confirmed: 8,580

Deaths: 121

Recovered: 0

Active: 8,459

 

Newfoundland and Labrador

Confirmed: 226

Deaths: 1

Recovered: 0

Active: 225

 

Ontario, Canada

Confirmed: 4,347

Deaths: 150

Recovered: 0

Active: 4,197

 

Manitoba, Canada

Confirmed: 203

Deaths: 2

Recovered: 0

Active: 201

 

Saskatchewan, Canada

Confirmed: 249

Deaths: 3

Recovered: 0

Active: 246

 

Alberta, Canada

Confirmed: 1,250

Deaths: 23

Recovered: 0

Active: 1,227

 

B.C. COVID-19 Response Update

Cases:

* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 1,266

* New cases since April 4, 2020: 63

* Hospitalized cases: 140

* Intensive care: 72

* COVID-19 related deaths: 39

* Recovered: 783

* Long term care and assisted living homes currently affected: 21

Confirmed cases by region:

* Vancouver Coastal Health: 586

* Fraser Health: 450

* Island Health: 79

* Interior Health: 128

* Northern Health: 23

 

New provincial advice and measures:

* NEW: Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, opinion editorial "No boundaries with COVID-19":

https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/no-boundaries-with-covid-19

* 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: Canadians can now apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit:

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2020/04/canadians-can-now-apply-for-the-canada-emergency-response-benefit.html

* NEW: New Horizons for Seniors Program projects can now be used for COVID-19 support:

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2020/04/new-horizons-for-seniors-program-projects-can-now-be-used-for-covid-19-support.html

* NEW: Government of Canada announces new measures for ferries and commercial passenger vessels capable of carrying more than 12 passengers: https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2020/04/the-government-of-canada-announces-new-measures-for-ferries-and-commercial-passenger-vessels-capable-of-carrying-more-than-12-passengers.html

* NEW: Canada's support for international efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2020/04/canadas-support-for-international-efforts-to-fight-the-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