Wednesday June 10, 2020 ~ BC
by Mary Brooke, B.Sc. ~ West Shore Voice News
Today the BC Centre for Disease Control data shows there are 12 new COVID-19 test positive cases in BC, with three of those in ages under 19.
- Of 185 active cases, 12 people are in hospital (four of those in ICU).
- The total number of test-positive cases in BC stands now at 2,680, with 2,328 people having recovered.
- Again today (now several days in a row) there are no new COVID deaths reported, with the tally standing at 167.
Long term care & community outbreaks:
Today Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix in a news release announced one new outbreak in a long-term care facility (Holy Family Hospital) in Vancouver. There are presently five active long-term care outbreaks in BC.
There have been no new community outbreaks, and public health teams are providing support for the six ongoing community outbreaks.
Number of cases in youth is up:
The number of children and teens that have tested positive for COVID-19 is up to 95 (58 youth over the age of 10, and 37 children under the age of 10). The number of cases was 73 at May 22, and has been slowly increasing this month. Today’s tally is up by three cases just since yesterday. [See current BC Centre for Disease Control stats]
There has been more activity in communities since May 19, and schools went back to some time in classrooms starting June 1.
Spreading through family gatherings:
“Through our active surveillance and testing, we have recently identified two community clusters of COVID-19 associated with large family connections,” it was stated in today’s release.
“This tells us that our public health teams are quickly identifying new cases. It also tells us that while our overall provincial cases may be low, COVID-19 is active and spreading in our communities.”
As Premier Horgan said today: “COVID-19 is in every corner of BC. It’s still a real and present threat to our well being,” said Horgan, adding that everyone in BC will “need to follow the guidelines until a vaccine is found”.
“When you bring households together, regardless of how many people that may include, everyone brings their own risk with them and the potential for spreading COVID-19 increases.
“This is why fewer faces and bigger spaces needs to continue to be our guidepost for how we move forward,” says Dr Henry.
Workers in health care and essential services:
“If you are someone who works in our health-care system, someone for whom essential travel is required or live in the same household with essential workers, it is very important to continue to limit your other social interactions so you don’t spread the risk around.
“Anyone coming across our border from the United States is coming from a high-risk area and needs to take full precautions to avoid inadvertently spreading the virus to your family or community in Canada.
Incoming from university elsewhere in Canada:
“If you are returning from university elsewhere in Canada, it is important to monitor yourself closely for symptoms, as some other parts of Canada are also experiencing community clusters and spread,” said Dr Henry in today’s news release.
“A COVID-19 test when you are asymptomatic is ineffective and is not your passport to increase your social circle. Following all of the rules for safe physical distancing and wearing a cloth mask when you can’t keep those distances is.
“Monitor, manage and modify are going to be the keys to managing COVID-19, by keeping our communities safe and protecting the ones we care for most.”
Next live update by PHO & Health Minister:
Dr Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix will provide their next live media briefing on Thursday June 11 at 3 pm.
===== 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 June 24, 2020 (and probably beyond).
