Wednesday March 25, 2020 ~ BC
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
With a risk of ‘Very High’ around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the pandemic on March 11 but the virus was first detected in December 2019 and spread rapidly in the Wuhan province of China in January and February.
“Share community without being physically together,” said BC Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry today March 25 during her daily COVID-19 media update.
“Physical distance and social connection. Do that in a virtual way, and a safe space between us to stop the transmission between us. Be kind, calm and continue to be safe,” she said.
Yesterday Dr Henry said that a larger number of cases could be expected in the next week to 10 days.
In some neighbourhoods on south Vancouver Island people are posting large red paper hearts on their windows as a way of expressing positive intentions as the expected COVID-19 fuller outbreak is expected to occur now toward the end of March or early April. It’s sort of a BC version of the Italians singing from their balconies in support of one another as COVID-19 has made a huge impact on the population.
Statistics at March 25, 2020:
Globally, WHO reports in their March 25, 2020 COVID-19 situational report (#65), that the number of confirmed cases worldwide is 414,179 (with 18,440 deaths).
In the ‘Region of the Americas’ (including USA, Canada, Mexico, and South American countries) the number of confirmed deaths is 60,834 (with 813 deaths).
In Canada, the number of confirmed cases as of mid-day today March 25 (Public Health Agency of Canada stats, 3 pm Pacific Time) was 3,385 with 35 deaths.
In BC, the number of cases was 659 (at 3 pm March 25) — that’s an increase of 42 cases since yesterday March 24. There have now been 14 deaths. Of the cases in BC (by region): 339 are in Vancouver Coastal, 218 in Fraser Health, 47 on Vancouver Island, 46 in the BC Interior, and nine in the North. People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 in BC tally at 183.
Testing:
Many people are concerned about whether or not they should be tested for COVID-19, but BC is testing only suspected cases based on symptoms. As stated in a BC Health release on March 25:
- Testing capacity in British Columbia has increased to approximately 3,500 tests per day.
- 26,681 individuals tested as of March 23, 2020.
- Across Canada, there are more than 10,000 tests per day.
- Testing is available for all who need it, but not everyone requires a test.
- If you have no symptoms, mild symptoms or you are a returning traveller self-isolating at home, you do not require a test.
Managing COVID-19:
People are asked to do social (physical) distancing (i.e. stay 1 to 2 metres apart), wash their hands frequently, stay home if they’re sick, and at this point in the development of the pandemic in BC to simply stay out of the community as much as possible.
“Don’t have people over to your home or gather in parks or outdoor areas, says Dr Henry. “This is the way to delay the onset and prevent transmission of this virus,” she told media today March 25.
Going shopping for groceries or to pick up medications at the pharmacy are understandably necessary. Otherwise, it’s time to remain at home away from others, said Dr Henry last week.
Dental Conference Followup:
Dr Henry told media that one man who had attended a dental conference where COVID-19 was later determined to have affected or infected a number of other persons at that international conference held in Vancouver (where 15,000 had attended), has since died. She said the BC Coroner is looking into the death to determine cause, but had no further details.
Acute Care Response Preparation:
BC Health has freed up over 3,800 hospital beds for COVID-19 acute care as required during increased community spread. To make that many beds available, on March 16 there was a cancellation of all elective surgeries.
It has taken about a week to reorganize hospitals and scheduled, and prepare or adjust health care workers and their assignments as well as organize protective equipment and supplies.
Health Minister Adrian Dix says freeing up that number of hospital beds speaks for itself. He said in the legislature on March 23 that he expects the current situation of the requirement for social distancing and at-home isolation to continue to at least the end of April.
Public health emergency:
Under a provincial health emergency, a provincial health officer, among other emergency powers, may:
- do orally what must otherwise be done in writing;
- serve an order in any manner;
- act in a shorter or longer time period than is otherwise required; and
- compel any peace officer to enforce an order.
=== LINKS:
Federal government introduces Canada Emergency Response Benefit to help workers and businesses (March 25, 2020)
The federal government’s plan to mobilize science to fight COVID-19 (March 2020)