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 announcing 62 new cases, including two epi-linked case since we reported on Tuesday, for a total of 5,304 cases in British Columbia.

“There are 896 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 2,730 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases, and 4,199 people who tested positive have recovered.

“Currently, 21 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, seven 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 1,699 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 2,795 in the Fraser Health region, 170 in the Island Health region, 429 in the Interior Health region, 133 in the Northern Health region and 78 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

“There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths, 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 have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. In total, 10 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and two acute-care facilities have active outbreaks.

“There are no new community outbreaks. However, there 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.

“When health regions issue community exposure alerts, the alerts are specific to the location, date and time of potential exposure. If you or your family may have been exposed, follow the public health advisory. Otherwise, no action is required.

“In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is understandable that many people have had increased anxiety and concern for the well-being of their families and themselves.

“For parents in particular, there is the added challenge of navigating a new approach to in-class learning that includes a number of additional public health protocols and precautions.

“Today, the Ministry of Education provided the latest updates on back-to-school plans. These plans are the outcome of many minds coming together in every school district to take the public health guidelines that have been developed and apply them to meet the specific needs of each school district.

“This has not been an easy task. We commend the many people who have put the time and effort into ensuring the best approach possible for our students, teachers and staff.

“School will be new for everyone this year – just as how we spend time with friends and how we operate our businesses has required a different way of doing things than we have ever done before.

“With COVID-19 in our communities for many months to come, new routines will be needed that can sustain families for the entire school year.

“As we look to the year ahead, we know that British Columbians will continue to demonstrate unparalleled resiliency and determination that will help see all of us through this pandemic.

“Working together, we will learn and adapt our approach as we go, as we focus our efforts on prevention, detection and rapid response. This is what will keep us strong and help protect all of us.”

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:
    • Bear Creek Villa independent-living facility
    • 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