Tuesday August 18,, 2020 | VANCOUVER, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., editor | Island Social Trends
Today the number of test-positive cases of COVID-19 in BC increased by a count of 83. Unlike in recent weeks where most of the surge in numbers was seen in people ages 20 to 40, today’s numbers show increases across all age groupings.
Six more children and youth (one under age 10, and five age 10 to 19) are in today’s BC Centre for Disease Control tally.
Young adults in the 20 to 29 year age category saw 23 new cases, while adults ages 30 to 39 saw 15 new cases.
In middle-age adults there were 13 new cases (six among ages 40 to 49 years and seven in the 50 to 59 year age group).
Seniors show a bit of an upswing in today’s numbers:
- Age 60 to 69 years – 11 new cases
- Age 70 to 79 years – 8 new cases
- Age 80 to 89 years – 2 new cases
- Age 90+ years – 0 new cases
The COVID-19 case counts have been trending upward steadily in BC this summer, to the great disappointment of public health officials and most British Columbians who have made great sacrifices to keep the epidemiological curve flattened in this province.
Today’s tally shows 4,677 cases. Among those, six are in hospital (three of those in intensive care, which often means being in a coma and on a ventilator).
As a result of identified exposure to known cases there are 2,326 people are under active public health monitoring. That means staying self-isolated for 14 days and being checked on daily by public health.
There are 775 active cases of COVID-19 in BC. A total of 3,704 people have recovered from being test-positive for COVID-19.
There were no new COVID deaths reported in BC today. The total stands at 198.
No new outbreaks:
Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Dr. Réka Gustafson, Deputy Provincial Health Officer, in their written statement today reported no new COVID-19 community outbreaks but community exposures continue.
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. Meanwhile, nine long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care facility still have active outbreaks.
State of Emergency extended to September 1:
Yesterday, Minister Dix announced that Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth will be announcing some stricter measures to clamp down on people who are flagrantly, knowingly or willingly breaking the public health rules (like physical distancing, most specifically breaches in public places where guidelines and public health orders are in place) that are required to keep the spread of COVID-19 under control.
Meanwhile, the State of Emergency in BC has been extended another two weeks to end of day September 1, 2020.
Vancouver Island COVID profile:
There is now a total of 156 cases on Vancouver Island (two new cases in the last 24 hours). Of the total, four are epilinked.
Yesterday the first case of COVID-19 in a child under age 10 was recorded for Vancouver Island, and today there was a new case in youth of ages 10 to 19 (total of nine cases in that age category on Vancouver Island).
The other new case on Vancouver Island today was in the 20 to 29 year age range.
No one is presently in hospital on Vancouver Island with COVID-19. A total of 144 people on Vancouver Island have recovered from COVID-19 after infection. The total number of deaths on Vancouver Island has remained at five for several months.
Check the Island Health website for exposure events:
People are advised to check their local Health Authority website (on Vancouver Island that’s Island Health) for information on exposures and outbreaks, and to follow guidance of public health teams if they happened to have been in a place where a COVID exposure has been reported.