Monday August 26, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
There are 62 new cases of COVID-19 in BC today, spread through all age groups, but with most (61.3%) of the new cases occurring in people ages 20 to 39.
The total number of cases of COVID-19 in BC now is 5,304 (of which 65 are epi-linked). There are now 21 people in hospital (down one from yesterday) of whom seven are in serious condition in ICU (same as yesterday).
There are 896 active cases (down from 921 yesterday), while 4,199 people are counted as recovered.
Exposure to COVID-19 is spreading in BC. Notably, 2,730 people are currently subject to active daily monitoring by public health due to exposure or potential exposure to known cases of COVID-19 (up from 2,675 yesterday and 2,594 the day before).
COVID for back to school:
“In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is understandable that many people have had increased anxiety and concern for the well-being of their families and themselves,” it was stated in a release from Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry.
“For parents in particular, there is the added challenge of navigating a new approach to in-class learning that includes a number of additional public health protocols and precautions,” it was stated in the release.
Today, the Ministry of Education provided the latest updates on back-to-school plans. Students are returning to mandatory in-class instruction (with many adjustments for physical distancing and efforts to contain students, teachers and support staff in identified groupings).
“These plans are the outcome of many minds coming together in every school district to take the public health guidelines that have been developed and apply them to meet the specific needs of each school district,” it was stated by Dix and Dr Henry.
Regional profile:
Case reports have been increasing during July and August as the economy has reopened and people are enjoying summer social activities.
Total cases of COVID-19 in BC to date is 5,304. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,699 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 2,795 in the Fraser Health region, 170 in the Island Health region, 429 in the Interior Health region, 133 in the Northern Health region and 78 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
Age profile in COVID stats:
Today’s COVID-19 case stats show an occurrence of cases in all age groups, similar to yesterday.
However, the highest number of test-positive cases as reported on August 26 are seen in the 20-29 and 30-39 age groupings where most of the non-compliant socializing has been taking place, or exposures in businesses and workplaces.
Find your age in this list of total COVID-19 cases numbers in BC (in brackets are the number of new cases at Aug 26):
- Under age 10 years: 125 cases (-1 / statistical adjustment)
- 10 to 19 years: 248 cases (5)
- 20 to 29 years: over 1,100* (some portion of 38) / *=dashboard shows 1.1K
- 30 to 39 years: over 1,000* (some portion of 38) / *=dashboard shows 1K
- 49 to 49 years: 744 (5)
- 50 to 59 years: 762 (7)
- 60 to 69 years: 483 (6)
- 70 to 79 years: 335 (1)
- 80 to 89 years: 274 (1)
- 90+ years: 162 (0)
- Tally for age unknown: 36 (down by six from yesterday).
Vancouver Island COVID profile:
As of August 26, there are 170 cases of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, which is up by two new cases since yesterday (the same increment as seen in August 25 stats).
The two new cases are seen — one each — in ages 20 to 29 and 50 to 59.
On Vancouver Island since the beginning of the pandemic there have been two cases in children under age 10 — one reported on August 17 and another August 25 — so both of those kids are still in isolation with COVID-19.
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.
On Vancouver Island, 152 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. There are now 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 livestreamed update 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.
Earlier in the day August 27, Minister Dix will make an announcement about changes to health profession regulation in BC (livestream at 11 am).
===== 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
