Saturday February 8, 2020 ~ BC / NATIONAL
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
Coronavirus update February 8: In the last 24 hours (7 am to 7 am Pacific Time, February 7 to 8) there are now 34,886 confirmed cases of the 2019-nCoV (Corona virus) infection worldwide. Of those, 99.17% are in China. These are stats from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Of the global total of confirmed cases, 3,419 are new cases in the last 24 hours (almost all in China, with 18 in other countries). The total confirmed cases in 24 countries outside of China is 288. Of those, seven cases are in Canada (4 in BC, 3 in Ontario); all cases in BC are of or associated with transmission from people who had returned to or visited Canada from the Wuhan epicentre.
There has been one death outside of the Chinese epicentre (in the Philippines).
The WHO risk assessment is ‘very high’ in China, and the the global level is called ‘high’ by WHO. In Canada and BC the risk is called ‘low’.
Transmission of the virus is thought to be in large droplets, contained in the mucus/moisture of coughs and sneezes. Droplets within 2 metres of a cough or sneeze can reach nearby persons. Droplets can survive on surfaces for a time. People are advised to hand-wash frequently with soap and warm water (or use hand sanitizer), to observe proper cough/sneeze etiquette, and to stay home if they are sick.
For people working in health care scenarios, there is the use of masks for their own protection while treating patients. The general population has been reminded by Canadian public health officials that the use of masks is probably unwarranted.
Map: Coronavirus infection locations around the world (WHO, February 8, 2020)
The BC Provincial Health Officer will hold a regular press conference each Tuesday. She and the Minister of Health have in the last two weeks held additional media conferences about the Coronavirus as required.
================ Learn More:
Updates for BC/Canada and global: February 5 & February 7
For more information and latest updates on 2019-nCoV, follow the BC Centre for Disease Control on Twitter @CDCofBC or visit the website: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Provincial health officer’s Jan. 29, 2020, statement confirming 2019-nCoV: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0016-000176
For the Jan. 28 joint statement on 2019-nCoV, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0015-000151