Wednesday August 5, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | West Shore Voice News
Today the BC Centre for Disease Control presented 47 new cases of COVID-19 in their data dashboard, for a total of 3,834 today on August 5. Of those, 38 are epi-linked.
Today’s report as provided in a written statement from BC Health and the Provincial Health Officer shows that 1,726 new tests were done since yesterday.
More tests are done per capita across Canada than in BC. The testing rate in BC is 45,983 per one million population; the national testing rate in Canada is 113,666 tests per one million population.
BC approach to testing:
In total in BC since the start of the pandemic 274,179 tests for COVID-19 have been done. The BC approach to testing is administer the test where a case of COVID is evident or expected by way of exposure.
Random testing in asymptomatic persons is presently considered an unwarranted use of resources, although public health now says that COVID-19 can be spread by people who are asymptomatic.
Higher rate of new cases:
Today’s 47 new cases is higher than the average number of new cases over the BC Day long weekend (four days, July 31 to August 4) averaged at 36.5 cases.
The 47 new cases today quite fairly elicits concern about community spread, while public health officials continue to advise that people adhere to ‘what works’ against the spread of the COVID-19 virus: physical distancing, frequent hand washing, wearing a mask if 2 metres distance cannot be maintained, staying within our social bubbles, and staying home if ill.
In their Restart BC strategy, the province is trying to strike a balance between keeping people apart (to avoid spread) and opening up the economy (allowing interaction in various sectors).
Age spectrum of new cases:
One child under the age of 10 is among the new cases of COVID-19 in BC today. In youth ages 10 to 19 there are three new cases. This lies ahead of return-to-school which is set for September 8.
The greatest number of new cases today shows in the 20-29 age group: 15 cases or 31.9% of today’s new cases. Young adults in this age group are seen to be out socializing more in the summer period, and are perhaps re-engaged in the workforce.
As a grouping of three age groupings of middle-age adults 30-39, 40-49, and 50-59, the total number of new cases is 24, or 51% of new cases. This age group’s cases may reflect more summer socializing and more contact in active employment sectors.
Four new cases were recorded in the 60-69 year age group today. There was only one new case in ages over 70 years (specifically in the 80-89 age group).
No new deaths due to COVID-19 in BC as of August 5. The tally remains at 195 (as of July 31).
Vancouver Island cases remain steady:
On Vancouver Island there were no new cases today from among 230 tests done. A total of 40,487 tests have been done in Island Health since the beginning of the pandemic.
One person is reported as admitted to ICU on August 5 (even though the BC CDC dashboard says no one is in hospital in Island Health).
The 146 current COVID-19 cases by age grouping on Vancouver Island are as follows: none in children under age 10; eight in the 10-19 youth and teen age group; 19 in the 20-29 young adult age group; 24 in ages 30-39 years; 21 in ages 40-49 years; 24 in ages 50-59 years; 18 in the 60-69 age group; 23 in elderly ages 70-79; eight in the 80-89 age group; and one person over age 90 years.
No new deaths on Vancouver Island; that tally remains at 5.
