Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Stephen Brown, deputy minister of health, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia:
“Today, we are announcing three 24-hour reporting periods. In the first reporting period from Oct. 2 to 3, we had 130 new cases, from Oct. 3 to 4, we had 108 new cases and in the last 24 hours, we have had a further 120 new cases.
“This represents a total of 358 new cases, including eight epi-linked cases, for a total of 9,739 cases in British Columbia.
“There are 1,353 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 3,010 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 8,115 people who tested positive have recovered.
“Currently, 66 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 16 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 3,580 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 4,980 in the Fraser Health region, 220 in the Island Health region, 548 in the Interior Health region, 322 in the Northern Health region and 89 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
“There have been four new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 242 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There have been three new health-care facility outbreaks: one at Langley Lodge, one at White Rock Seniors Village and one at Chartwell Crescent Gardens. The outbreak at Holy Family Hospital has been declared over. In total, 16 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and three acute-care facilities have active outbreaks.
“There has been one new community outbreak at the MSJ Valhalla Distribution Centre in the Fraser Health region. There also continue to be exposure events around the province. Public alerts and school notifications are posted on the BC Centre for Disease Control's (BCCDC) website and on all health authorities’ websites.
“Many of us are thinking ahead to Thanksgiving celebrations this weekend. New guidance for safer celebrations while COVID-19 remains in our communities is now available on the BCCDC website.
“This year, make your celebrations large in thanks but small in size. While many of us would often travel to friends and family to spend time together, now is the time to stay closer to home and have a smaller gathering instead.
“If you are getting together with your ‘safe six’ for Thanksgiving, limit your time together prior to or following your meal, seat guests as far apart as possible and opt for individual servings instead of a buffet. And always remember if you are at all feeling ill, show you care by staying home and away from others.
“The modelling data released today tells us as a direct result of so many people paying attention to the public health precautions and doing the right thing, we are making a difference and flattening our curve.
“The work of public health teams throughout the province has been extremely effective, and contact tracing has shown the majority of new cases are connected to a known case or cluster, which means uncontrolled transmission is limited.
“Additionally, much like other aspects of our society that are now open, we have seen exposures in our schools. However, importantly, schools are not a major source of transmission.
“While the number of overall cases has risen, we have fewer hospitalizations than in the spring. This is in part because many of the recent cases of COVID-19 are those who are younger and, as a result, less susceptible to severe illness.
“While this highlights that no one is immune to COVID-19, the fewer people with severe illness mean we continue to have capacity in our health-care system for those who need additional care.
“Our actions today have a direct impact on how the province will fair tomorrow. What we do for Thanksgiving will make a difference for Halloween and the next celebration after that.
“This weekend, give thanks to your neighbours, friends and family for doing their part to keep you safe. We are stronger together by staying apart, so let’s continue to find new ways to support each other and show we care – at a safe distance.”
Quick Facts:
- Assisted living, long-term care homes and seniors’ rental buildings with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks are as follows:
- Vancouver Coastal Health
- Banfield Pavilion long-term care facility
- Haro Park Centre long-term care facility (second occurrence)
- Point Grey Private Hospital long-term care facility
- Fraser Health
- Chartwell Crescent Gardens long-term care facility
- Cherington Place long-term care facility
- Evergreen Hamlets long-term care facility
- George Derby Centre long-term care facility
- Harrison West at Elim Village long-term care facility
- Kin Village assisted-living facility
- Langley Lodge long-term care facility (third occurrence)
- Milieu Children and Family Services Society community-living facility
- New Vista Care Home long-term care facility
- Rideau Retirement Centre independent-living facility
- Thornebridge Gardens assisted-living facility
- Peace Portal Seniors Village long-term care facility
- White Rock Seniors Village long-term care facility
- Vancouver Coastal Health
Learn More:
BCCDC’s safer celebrations guidance: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/social-interactions/safer-celebrations
To learn more about the modelling presentation from Oct. 5, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COVID19_Going_Forward_Oct_2020.pdf
Guidance for Halloween during COVID19: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/social-interactions/halloween
To find the provincial health officer’s orders, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
To see a map of COVID-19 cases by local health area, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
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
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 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
A backgrounder follows.