Friday June 12, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC
by Mary Brooke, B.Sc. ~ West Shore Voice News
In the past two days, 30 test-positive cases have been reported in BC: 16 today June 12 and 14 yesterday June 11, including two more cases in children and teens. The number of cases among youth and children was 73 at May 22, and has been slowly increasing this month.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in BC as of today June 12 is 2,709 of which 187 are active cases and 2,354 have recovered. Today 12 people are in hospital with COVID-19 (three in ICU), that’s down from yesterday’s 13 hospitalized (and five in ICU).
Regional profile of COVID-19 cases in the five health authorities since the beginning of the pandemic: 922 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,396 in Fraser Health, 130 in the Island Health region, 196 in the Interior Health region, and 65 in Northern Health (with data correction of one less case in Northern Health).
There are no known active cases on Vancouver Island at this time.
Death tally – COVID-19:
Today there has been one new COVID-19 related death (in the Vancouver Coastal Health region), for a total of 168 deaths in BC.
Death tally – Opioid Crisis:
Yesterday Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry reported a spike in the tally of overdose deaths in BC — up to 170 in May (after 114 in March and 117 in April), which is indirectly related to the lockdowns and restrictions of COVID-19 (drug quality is more toxic for being cut with more dangerous substances because other supplies can’t get across the border, and overall there is even more despair due to family and/or financial situations due to the pandemic).
Rates of illicit drug toxicity deaths are highest in Vancouver, Northeast, Thompson Cariboo, Northern Interior, and South Vancouver Island Health Services Delivery Areas in 2020. | See Coroner’s Report for Opiodic Deaths Jan 2010 to May 2020
Dr Henry was clearly upset at the high tally, saying “I can’t express how difficult this news has been to hear”. For in a sense, this is prioritizing the protection of one group of people (those who can remain in lockdown and be safe) and those who are already more disadvantaged.
Dr Henry outlined that resources to deal with overdose scenarios are stretched and that drug toxicity has increased. She says it’s a problem across BC, for people in all regions, but mostly men age 20 to 39. “Young people – men age 20 to 39 – are dying alone at home. Those are the people we need to reach out to,” said Dr Henry with deep compassion.
Some of the highest rates are being affected by toxic street drugs. And because of the pandemic, people are staying farther apart from others. “This can be very isolating for some people,” said Dr Henry, adding that it’s easier to hide drug use from others. “Using alone is exceedingly deadly,” she adds, saying conditions for people using drugs to deal with their pain (whether physical, psychic or emotional) “has been particularly hard in these last three months” after “such progress had been made” with the overdose crisis. “There is no one single cause and no magic bullet to solve (the opioid crisis),” Dr Henry said yesterday.
“Connection helps us address addiction, helps us overcome the many reasons why we use drugs. Unless we connect with people we don’t have an opportunity to address those concerns,” Dr Henry said. She emphasized that there have been no deaths at consumption sites, that drug checking helps, as well as reaching out, not using alone and carrying naloxone.
Dr Henry has advocated for a few years about eliminating the use of small amounts of illicit drugs landing people into the criminal justice system. “Eliminating stigma and shame and getting them the assistance that they need” is the right approach, she says. “The things we are doing is saving lives. The use of drugs is rooted in pain.”
Outbreaks:
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. In total, five long-term care or assisted-living facilities continue to have active outbreaks.
There have been no new community outbreaks and public health teams continue to provide support for the six ongoing community outbreaks.
Here is the current list of assisted living, long-term care homes and seniors’ rental buildings with past or ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks:
Vancouver Coastal Health:
- Holy Family Hospital long-term care facility
- South Granville Park Lodge long-term care facility
Fraser Health:
- Langley Lodge long-term care facility (second outbreak April 29)
- Nicola Lodge long-term care facility
- Valhaven Home long-term care facility
Outbreaks declared over:
- Amica Edgemont
- Amica Retirement Home long-term care facility
- Berkley Care Centre long-term care facility
- Cedarbrook Chateau independent living
- Central City Lodge
- Chartwell Willow long-term care facility
- Clayton Heights long-term care facility
- Delta View long-term care facility
- Dufferin Care Centre
- Eden Care Centre long-term care facility
- Evergreen Heights assisted living
- Evergreen House long-term care facility
- German Canadian House long-term care facility
- Guildford Seniors Village long-term care facility
- Haro Park long-term care facility
- Hollyburn House long-term care facility
- Inglewood Lodge long-term care facility
- Kootenay Street Village long-term care facility
- Langley Gardens long-term care facility
- Langley Lodge long-term care facility (first outbreak declared over April 25)
- Little Mountain long-term care facility
- Lynn Valley long-term care facility
- MSA Manor long-term care facility
- New Vista Care Home long-term care facility
- Orchard Manor at Hawthorn Park long-term care facility
- Royal Arch Masonic Home long-term care facility
- Shaughnessy Care Centre long-term care facility
- Swedish Canadian Manor assisted living
- The Cedars in Mission assisted living facility
- The Harrison at Elim Village long-term care facility
- Villa Cathay long-term care facility
- Windermere Care Centre long-term care facility
- Worthington Pavilion
Next live update by PHO & Health Minister:
Dr Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix will provide their next live media briefing on Monday June 15 at 3 pm.
===== RESOURCES:
- BC’s Restart Plan
- B.C.’s surgical renewal plan
- Mental health and anxiety support: www.bouncebackbc.ca or www.anxietycanada.com
- BC CDC for the latest medical updates, including COVID-19 case counts, prevention, risks and testing or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter
- Non-health related information, including financial, child care and education supports, 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.
- 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
===== RELATED:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses post-secondary graduates, calling them the next Great Generation (June 10, 2020)
Premier John Horgan gives green light to NHL for hub in Vancouver | players will be an extended family bubble for quarantine (June 10, 2020)
Amateur sport organizations and volunteers will be covered for liability by the BC Government this summer during COVID-19, says Premier Horgan (June 10, 2020)
State of Emergency continues in BC to the end of day on June 23, 2020 (and probably will be renewed).
