Thursday September 24, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
It’s almost standard news to hear the daily count of new cases of COVID-19, but Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry says no one should be complacent about the COVID-19 virus.
Starting with her daily rollout of COVID-19 case statistics for September 24, she then presented a relatively stable phase of the pandemic … no new outbreaks, ‘only’ two deaths (it could be much worse), things are stable in schools. But it is still a pandemic and we are, for sure, in the second wave of COVID-19 in this incredibly strange year that is 2020.
From the Prime Minister to premiers across the country, to public health everywhere, this is the second wave already. We’re in it.
“We have choice about our own risk, what we do, who we interact with. Risk we bring home to our family and people we’re closest to,” said Dr Henry today around the idea of keeping social bubbles small and well-managed.
She says a small family dinner (your usual bubble) at Thanksgiving will be fine, but not large family gatherings. Again, to keep possible exposures under control.
She added that the election on a Saturday — with many voting stations in schools — will be safe. Health and safety protocols will be in place for voting place personnel and voters.
September 24 COVID stats:
Today there were 148 new cases reported — that’s a high point in BC’s pandemic (12 were epi-linked). Total cases in BC tallies at 8,543 today.
In the total case count for BC, adults under age 40 comprise 44% of all cases. Of today’s new 148 cases, 62% are in that age cluster (ages 20 to 39). Cases re on the rise in this age range.
Children and youth together (ages newborn to 19) comprise about 8.7% of all cases during the pandemic to date. Of today’s 148 new cases, children and youth to age 19 comprise almost 21% of the tally. Cases are on the rise for young people.
There are 1,371 active cases, with 61 of those people in hospital (of whom 20 are in intensive care or acute care). To date during the pandemic, 727 people have been hospitalized.
Self isolating and recovered:
There are 3,417 people who are self-isolating after having been exposed to COVID-19 in some way — either through their own movement in the community, or through people in their lives who were exposed to the virus.
In BC, 6,970 people are said to have recovered from COVID-19 after previously testing positive.
COVID deaths in BC:
The two deaths reported today were of people in the Fraser Health region of the BC Lower Mainland. Total deaths in BC stand at 229 (five of those on Vancouver Island).
Vancouver Island COVID profile:
Vancouver Island has had a relatively light ride with COVID-19 so far, but Dr Henry warns to not be complacent. Of 203 total cases on the island during the pandemic so far, six are presently active (1 in the south, 2 in central island, and 3 in the north), and 192 have recovered.
