Health
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia:
“Today, we are reporting 456 new cases, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 78,278 cases in British Columbia.
“There are 4,668 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, with 7,924 people under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases. A further 72,219 people who tested positive have recovered.
“Of the active cases, 237 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 64 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.
“Since we last reported, we have had 108 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 259 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 35 in the Island Health region, 30 in the Interior Health region, 20 in the Northern Health region and four new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
“To date, 230,875 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 62,608 of which are second doses. Immunization data is available on the COVID-19 dashboard: www.bccdc.ca
“There have been two new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,338 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost loved ones to COVID-19.
“There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. The outbreak at Creekside Landing (Interior Health) is now over.
“Throughout our province and our country, we are all working hard to address the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to our lives. Today is Pink Shirt Day. Let’s take a moment to remind ourselves about the importance of compassion and kindness in the face of these challenges.
“Kindness is staying away from friends and family, it is offering thanks to the store clerk who reminds us to follow their safety plan, it is offering a smile – even behind our masks and assuming the best of everyone around us.
“Just as our health-care system has risen to the challenge of protecting and caring for people who have become ill with this virus, so too are countless others working hard to get people immunized as quickly and safely as possible.
“Vaccinating our entire population is a monumental task that must account for the diversity of our geography and our population. We must consider how to safely deliver vaccine to rural and remote communities, how to connect with seniors and Elders everywhere, and how to ensure the process to get immunized is as simple as possible. We are pushing hard right now, and we must continue to balance speed with the need for careful thought and planning.
“Let’s remember to look after one another, to offer a helping hand – even at a distance, and give each other the benefit of the doubt through kindness, care and compassion.”
Learn More:
To share your feedback in the Personal Impacts of COVID-19 survey, visit: https://www.bcchr.ca/POP/our-research/pics
Mental health support:
Mental health and anxiety support: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
Or: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/mental-well-being-during-covid-19
Or: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/virtual-supports-covid-19
Provincial health officer orders and guidance:
Guidance on new restrictions: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions
Vaccine and outbreak info:
For vaccine information, visit the BCCDC dashboard: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data Or: www.bccdc.ca
For data regarding ongoing outbreaks in long-term care, assisted-living and independent-living facilities in B.C., visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data#outbreak
The latest updates, guidance and information on COVID-19, and where to get tested:
The latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and to find a testing centre near you: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.
Non-health related information:
Financial, child care and education support, travel, transportation and essential service information: 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.
COVID-19 exposure events, updates and information by health authority:
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 Health: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures
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.
