Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia:

“Today, we are providing case updates for three 24-hour reporting periods. In the first reporting period from Aug. 21 to 22, we had 109 new cases. Aug. 22 to 23, we had 81 new cases, and in the last 24 hours, we have had an additional 79 new cases.

“This represents 269 new cases, including five epi-linked cases since we reported on Friday, for a total of 5,184 cases in British Columbia.

“There are 913 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 2,594 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases, and 4,068 people who tested positive have recovered.

“Currently, 18 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, five of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,651 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 2,739 in the Fraser Health region, 166 in the Island Health region, 425 in the Interior Health region, 127 in the Northern Health region and 76 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

“There has been one new COVID-19 related death in the Fraser Health region, for a total of 203 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at MSA Manor in the Fraser Health region. In total, nine long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care facility have active outbreaks.

“There are no new community outbreaks. The outbreak at Fraser Valley Packers Inc. has been declared over. There also continues to be community exposure events at other locations and on flights into and out of the province.

“Alerts are posted on the BC Centre for Disease Control's (BCCDC) website, as well as on health authorities’ websites, providing details on where the potential exposure occurred and what actions to take – whether you need to self-isolate, or monitor for symptoms.

“As we live with COVID-19 in our communities, our goals are clear: to prevent cases through our personal safety measures, detect new cases as quickly as possible and respond just as quickly to contain the spread of the virus.

“Public health teams continue to closely watch our key indicators to ensure we are staying where we need to be. This includes monitoring the level of community spread, as well as the percentage of positive tests. In both cases, right now we are staying within the range of where we need to be.

“We still have low transmission and we want to keep it that way as our summer continues and we look to the fall. It is about finding the balance – protecting vulnerable people and keeping our activities going.

“Our COVID-19 response in B.C. is about all of us doing our part and taking the right precautions based on our circumstances. It is about protecting those around us and protecting ourselves.

“While there are a few that have disregarded public health measures, new enforcement rules are in place to shore up the gaps that have emerged.

“This is how we will get through this storm together – supporting each other, adjusting our approach as we learn more about the virus and tailoring our activities to the circumstances before us.

“Let’s stay strong and continue to use the basic steps to live safely while COVID-19 is still a part of our lives. We have the knowledge, we have the skills and we have the expertise to protect our most vulnerable, our elders, our communities and ourselves.”

Quick Facts:

• Assisted living, long-term care homes and seniors' rental buildings with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks are as follows:
  • Vancouver Coastal Health:
    • Arbutus Care Centre long-term care facility
    • Holy Family Hospital long-term care facility
  • Fraser Health:
    • Czorny Alzheimer Centre long-term care facility
    • Dania Home long-term care facility
    • Derby Manor long-term care facility
    • George Derby Centre long-term care facility
    • Maple Ridge Seniors Village assisted living facility
    • MSA Manor long-term care facility (second outbreak)
    • New Vista Care Home long-term care facility

Learn More:

If you are experiencing symptoms, find a collection centre near you to get tested:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing

Find out more about the new enforcement of public health officer orders on events:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0046-001568

If you have plans this weekend, follow Dr. Bonnie Henry’s Good Times Guide: https://goodtimes.gov.bc.ca/

For mental health and anxiety support, visit: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com

For a listing of the community exposure events, go to:
BCCDC (flights, work sites, etc.): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
Fraser Health: fraserhealth.ca/covid19exposure
Interior Health: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures
Northern Health: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/outbreaks-and-exposures
Vancouver Coastal: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures

For B.C.’s surgical renewal plan and the first report on its progress from July 21, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0228-001337

For more information about BC’s Restart Plan, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/restartbc

For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

For non-health related information, including financial, child care and education supports, travel, transportation and essential service information, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week.

For the latest videos and livestreaming of COVID-19 media availabilities, visit:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCProvincialGovernment/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovNews 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/ProvinceofBC