Friday August 21, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor |Island Social Trends
The persistent COVID case statistics this week speak for themselves: 90 cases today (August 21), 80 new cases yesterday (August 20), on the heels of 68 Wednesday, 83 on Tuesday, and 236 on Monday (a composite of 100, 88 and 48 from August 14 to 17).
The week’s COVID tally — now 4,915 in BC since the beginning of the pandemic — comes on the heels of an announcement earlier today by Public Safety Minister and Attorney General Mike Farnworth who cracked down hard on people are not complying by the public health orders that require physical distancing.
Farnworth’s message focuses on the too-close social-gathering behaviours of people in the 20 to 39 year age groups, where most of the case spikes have been seen through the use of fines against event organizers and venue owner ($2,000), as well as against individuals ($200) who will not comply with requests by law enforcers to be physical distancing.
Enforcement is not only by police but also local bylaw officers, liquor and cannabis retail civil servants, gaming officers and conservation officers.
COVID prevention looks different in public vs bubbles:
“COVID-19 prevention looks different in different places. In public, around people we do not know, we focus on giving people more space,” it was stated in a joint release today from Health Minister Adrian Dix and Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr Réka Gustafson.
“In workplaces and classrooms where we interact with people we know, keeping our groups smaller, staying home when sick and reducing very close face-to-face contact is the goal.”
August 21 COVID stats:
There are 90 new COVID cases within the 4,915 BC total today (58 are epi-linked). The highest number of new cases was seen in the 20-29 year age group (25 cases / 27.77%) with a strong surge in cases as well for people ages 39 to 39 years (20 cases / 22.22%) and adults in the 40 to 49 age range (17 cases / 18.88%).
As we approach back-to-school, it’s worth noting that COVID cases have been seen all week in children and teens. Today’s increase of 90 cases in BC again — like yesterday — includes six kids (three under the age of 10, and three in the 10-19 age bracket).
In total there are 118 children under age 10 in the BC COVID case tally since the beginning of the pandemic, and 223 youth ages 10 to 19.
Older age brackets present COVID-19 cases as follows:
- 50-59 years – eight new cases (total 726)
- 60-69 years – four new cases (total 455)
- 70-79 years – two new cases (total 316)
- 80-89 years – two new cases (total 266)
- 90+ years – one new case (total 159)
There were two new COVID-related deaths in today’s report, those being elderly people in care homes in the Fraser Health Authority region. Total deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in BC now stand at 202.
There are 13 people now in hospital with COVID — up from 11 yesterday; five of those people are in ICU. Currently 820 people are recovering in self-isolation at home (note: 820 is the number given on the BC CDC dashboard today while the statement from Health Minister and Deputy Provinnial Health Officer shows 824).
Now 3,889 people have recovered from test-positive infections.
Now 2,594 people in BC are under public health watch (20 more than yesterday), doing self-isolation due to exposure or potential exposure to COVID-19.
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. In total, eight long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care facility have active outbreaks. This is unchanged from yesterday
Check alerts online:
Alerts are posted on the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) website, as well as on health authorities’ websites, providing details on where the potential exposures occurred and what actions to take – whether you need to self-isolate or monitor for symptoms.
On Vancouver Island the Island Health website provides those exposure event details (including on airline flights or at airports).
Vancouver Island COVID age profile:
At August 21, the Vancouver Island case profile for COVID-19 shows 160 cases (one new case since yesterday, this time in the 20-29 year age grouping whereas yesterday’s new case was in the 30-39 age group).
There has been one child under age 10 with a case of COVID (reported new on August 17). In youth ages 10 to 19, there have been nine cases on Vancouver Island (last new case reported August 17).
Adult COVID profile by age group on VANCOUVER ISLAND:
- 20-29 years – 23 cases (one new August 21)
- 30-39 years – 31 cases (no new cases)
- 40-49 years – 22 cases (no new cases)
- 50-59 years – 24 cases (no new cases)
- 60-69 years – 18 cases (no new cases)
- 70-79 years – 23 cases (no new cases)
- 80-89 years – 8 cases (no new cases)
- 90+ years – 1 case (no new cases)
A total of 146 people have recovered, but there are still nine active cases. No one is in hospital in Island Health with COVID at this time. There have in total been five deaths on Vancouver Island due to COVID in 2020.
There’s a fairly even distribution of COVID cases on Vancouver Island. Of the 159 cases in the August 20 update by Island Health, 58 have occurred in the south island region, 41 in central, and 60 in the north. The Island Health report on regional distribution is updated on Mondays or more frequently if new cases are reported.
Generally speaking, the island has held a flattened curve rather well, perhaps due to fewer incoming travellers and possibly due to people actively embracing outdoor activities.
Next BC Health COVID update:
The next livestreamed teleconference about COVID-19 by Health Minister Adrian Dix will be on Monday August 24 at 3 pm, from Victoria.
He will be accompanied by Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry who has been taking time off this week.
The August 24 update will be the 121st such session for media and the public, since the joint COVID-19 briefings began in January 2020.
===== LINKS provided by Ministry of Health:
If you are experiencing symptoms, find a collection centre near you to get tested:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing (http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing)
Find out more about the new enforcement of public health officer orders on events:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0046-001568
If you have plans this weekend, follow Dr. Bonnie Henry’s Good Times Guide: https://goodtimes.gov.bc.ca/
For mental health and anxiety support, visit: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
For a listing of the community exposure events, go to:
BCCDC (flights, work sites, etc.): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
Fraser Health: fraserhealth.ca/covid19exposure
Interior Health: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures
Northern Health: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/outbreaks-and-exposures
Vancouver Coastal: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures
For B.C.’s surgical renewal plan and the first report on its progress from July 21, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0228-001337
For more information about BC’s Restart Plan, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/restartbc
For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.
For non-health related information, including financial, child care and education supports, travel, transportation and essential service information, visit: 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.
For the 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