Monday August 24, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
Another week begins with strong COVID-19 case counts — about 90 cases per day for the last three days.
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC) COVID-19 statistics show a record one-day tally of 109 cases for Friday-Saturday (Aug 21-22), tailed by 81 cases for Saturday-Sunday (Aug 22-23), and 79 cases for Sunday-Monday (Aug 23-24) for a total announced today as 269 new cases.
The high counts at a level not seen since (and surpassing) many of the early days of the pandemic in March and April were rolled out by Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry today.
The total number of cases of COVID-19 in BC now is 5,184 (of which 63 are epi-linked). There are 18 people in hospital (almost double last week’s count) of whom five are in serious condition in ICU.
There are 909 active cases in BC, and 4,068 people are counted as recovered.
Notably, 2,594 people are subject to active daily monitoring by public health right now for exposure or potential exposure to known cases of COVID-19.
Back from a break:
This was Dr Henry’s first day back from one-week off, and while she said cases and outbreaks were to be expected as the economy opened up, these sorts of case counts are a dismaying profile given that many are a result of socializing without regard for physical distancing.
Generally speaking, people in businesses and other places of businesses are working very hard to follow public health orders and guidelines. The problem seems to be on the after-hours socializing side of things, whether that’s at-home gatherings or in bars, pubs and restaurants.
Penalties for lack of physical distancing:
Most markedly, private parties without sufficient physical distancing were held on two nights in a row this past weekend at a private apartment in Victoria. The organizer of the party was fined over $2,000 and at least one person who refused to leave was fine $230 by Victoria Police.
Fines for harsher enforcement of public health officer’s orders came into effect on Friday August 21, 2020 as announced by Public Safety Minister & Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.
Today in her shared news conference with Health Minister Adrian Dix, Dr Henry said she supports the tougher enforcement as being appropriate for those instances where some people simply aren’t adhering to the required public health safety measures.
Dr Henry’s approach from the start of the pandemic has been one of education, explanations and reminders. That approach has earned great praise for her and BC overall for flattening the curve earlier this year.
“We need people to trust us and have opportunities,” she offered today as another way to explain her methodical and calm approach based on the science. “We need to find as much of a balance as we can,” said Dr Henry.
Dr Henry’s mantra that British Columbians should be ‘kind, calm and safe’ has earned her a place in the history books of this province and the career realms of epidemology… not only because it worked to stem the spread of the disease but it has very likely helped with behaviours in countless situations where frustration or worse might have erupted.
Where the new cases are coming from:
“We must continue to be on our guard,” said Dr Henry today. She said that new cases are a result of “people in and out of the province on essential travel”.
“They are bringing the virus with them, into communities. They may not recognize that they have these symptoms,” the provincial health officer said today.
However, the spread once it’s here is among people in close groupings such as families, social events such as weddings and funerals, and any bars and restaurants where public health measures are not being adhered to.
Spread is also between health care workers and their families.
Age profile in COVID stats:
The three days of COVID-19 case stats show an occurrence of cases in all age groups which is not the usual profile. But test-positive cases for August 22 to 24 are seen predominantly in the 20-29 and 30-39 age groupings where most of the non-compliant socializing is taking place.
Find your age in this list of total COVID-19 cases numbers in BC (in brackets are the number of new cases Aug 22-24):
- Under age 10 years: 123 cases (5)
- 10 to 19 years: 239 cases (16)
- 20 to 29 years: over 1,100* (114) / *=dashboard showed 1.1K
- 30 to 39 years: 995 (81)
- 49 to 49 years: 730 (43)
- 50 to 59 years: 750 (14)
- 60 to 69 years: 474 (19)
- 70 to 79 years: 333 (17)
- 80 to 89 years: 272 (6)
- 90+ years: 162 (3)
- Tally for age unknown: 45 (this is down 10 from Friday).
Vancouver Island COVID profile:
As of today August 24, there are 166 cases of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, which is six new cases in the last three days (Aug 22-24).
Those six new cases are seen in ages 20 to 69, with one new cases in each of 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 age brackets, and two cases in the 60-69 age group.
On Vancouver Island since the beginning of the pandemic there have been nine cases among youth and teens (age 10 to 19) — the latest one on August 18 so that person is still in isolation. There has been one case in a child under the age of 10 — reported on August 17 so that child is also still in isolation with COVID-19.
On Vancouver Island, 148 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. There are still 13 active cases. There have been five deaths (no new deaths on the island for many weeks).
Until last week (August 20 Island Health report) there was a fairly even distribution of COVID cases on Vancouver Island.
With the six new cases (to a total of 166) in Island Health, there is more of an increase in the south and north areas (August 24 Island Health report): 61 have occurred in the south island region, 43 in central, and 62 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.
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).
Next BC Health COVID update:
The August 24 update today was the 122nd such session for media and the public, since the joint COVID-19 briefings began in January 2020.
The next livestreamed teleconference about COVID-19 by Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry will be on Thursday August 27 at 3 pm.
===== 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
