There are now 1,998 cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in B.C., after health officials announced 50 new cases Monday.
There were 39 cases from April 25 to April 26 and 11 cases from April 26 to April 27.
There have been two new outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Currently, there are 21 active outbreaks in long-term facilities and three acute care unit outbreaks in the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions. A total of 389 people in these facilities have tested positive. Outbreaks are declared over at 12 care facilities.
The outbreak at the Mission federal correctional institute in the Fraser Valley continues to grow. Now, there are 118 cases that are positive for COVID-19.
25 of the new cases are related to the ongoing outbreak at Superior Poultry, a chicken processing plant in Coquitlam. Meanwhile, the amount of positive cases related to the initial outbreak announced earlier this week at United Poultry Company Ltd., a Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»processing plant, remains steady at 34.
Eleven cases connected to the Kearl Lake project in Alberta, have been confirmed to date, Henry added. However, she notes that there are several hundred people associated with the project, and that anyone who has been in the project since March 24 needs to self-isolate. In addition, she mentions that the health authority has been given a list of names of individuals connected to the facility that they are contacting.
There have been an additional three deaths, for a total of 103 fatalities in the province.
There are currently 97 people in acute care in hospital and 36 are in critical care.
1190 people have fully recovered and are no longer in isolation.
Despite a number of community outbreaks, Henry stated that the decrease in cases is clear evidence that the sustained efforts to follow public health measures has slowed the rate of transmission of COVID-19.
"In addition, our increased surveillance testing has led us to find people in our community who are postive for COVID-19 and the vast majority of them our linked to outbreaks now, which is an important thing for us to understand so that we know where transmission is happening in our community," Henry said.
Henry encouraged eager business owners to be patient as the province is forming a "made in B.C. plan" in regard to re-opening their establishments. She noted that other parts of Canada and the U.S. are also making plans to re-open businesses, but that it is vital that this process is done correctly.
Health Minister Adrian Dix added that, "We believe that everyone matters when we are dealing with COVID-19. Every case matters, every person matters, and that continues to be the case."
"We are thinking of you and with you as you deal with your loss," he said.
On Saturday, Henry raised the issue of domestic violence in the age of physical distancing. While staying home is the best method to bend the COVID-19 curve, she said, "In many cases this has led to increased family stresses and a decrease in community connections. Unfortunately, for some being at home means not being safe," she said, adding that domestic violence is known to, potentially, increase during a crisis like the ongoing pandemic.
"If you are experiencing violence, it's not okay," Henry said. "We want you to know that you are not alone, there are resources out here, that we have, that are available for you." She urged those in immediate danger to call 911, and also cited as a toll-free, confidential resource available 24 hours a day.
Henry encourages everyone to be kind to people who have to continue to work during the pandemic, such as those working in grocery stores, pharmacies, and in health care. She adds that isolation can be challenging, and that anyone who has an underlying illness should contact a doctor through virtual care. She mentions and as useful resources for mental health.
- With files from Megan Lalonde.
