There are now 2,562 cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in B.C., after health officials announced four new cases Friday.
Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry reports that there are 900 cases in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Coastal Health (VCH), 1,277 in Fraser Health, 127 on Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Island, 195 in Interior Health and 63 in Northern Health
There have been no new outbreaks in long-term care facilities. In total, 15 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care unit have active outbreaks.
Public health teams continue to provide support for community outbreaks at federal corrections facilities, the processing facilities in the poultry sector and for individuals connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta.
The outbreak at the Mission correctional facility outbreak has been declared over.
There has been no new deaths. There have been 164 fatalities in the province to date.
There are currently 34 people in acute care in hospital and six are in intensive care.
There are 228 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 2,170 people who tested positive have recovered.
“WorkSafeBC’s COVID-19 guidance has been developed through a collaboration of public health and workplace experts. The comprehensive guidance balances creating opportunities to safely restart many activities and the ability to protect everyone as we do that," said Henry.
“WorkSafeBC is the first stop when looking for the latest information and guidance for your workplace. Check the website frequently or call the WorkSafeBC Prevention Information Line at 1 888 621-SAFE, as new information is added every day: www.worksafebc.com.
“We commend the federal government’s decision to maintain the restrictions on cruise ships in Canadian waters until October. This is the right thing to do for our country and our province right now to prevent the introduction of COVID-19 into our coastal communities."
“Easing restrictions can be done only after thoughtful consideration. Our focus and priority are the health and safety of all British Columbians. With your help and all of us doing our part, we will get through this storm together.”
On Monday, Henry announced the start of B.C. Paramedic Services Week: "We want to recognize these emergency first responders who are an integral part of our health response, including to both public health emergencies we are facing in B.C. These specialists are with us from the moment we call 911, to when we get to hospital, as part of the network of health professionals helping to protect us. They are active in supporting health care in communities across B.C. through the Community Paramedicine program."
“We are moving forward carefully into Phase 2, assessing our progress week by week, and we are encouraged by what we have seen so far," said Henry. “COVID-19 has a two-week incubation period, which means any new cases that are a result of the easing of restrictions will start to appear over the coming week.
Last week, many businesses that had been closed due to the pandemic can "begin the process of safely reopening." The public health officer's revised orders can be found on .
As the province "cautiously" moves toward its second phase of reopening with a gradual easing of restrictions, Henry warned that "we have to move carefully, and we have to move thoughtfully.
"The province-wide 'your story, our future' survey is an opportunity to share your personal experience with COVID-19 so far. Take a few minutes to join the 286,000 British Columbians who have already completed the survey, or help someone else to do the same," she said.
“The information you share is incredibly important and so is ensuring your confidentiality and data security. The survey has stringent security and privacy measures built in to make sure you can provide your input with the assurance of the security we all expect and need. If you have any questions about the survey, please send them to: [email protected]
“Our individual circumstances are unique, but the actions we can take to protect each other and ourselves are the same. We have made great strides to flatten our curve and we must continue to work together to keep it there.”
- With files from Megan Lalonde.
