Tuesday June 23, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC
by Mary Brooke, B.Sc., editor ~ West Shore Voice News
In BC there were 32 new test-positive cases of COVID-19 over last weekend into Monday (June 20 to 22), as reported by Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry yesterday.
That was seen as 10 new cases Friday to Saturday, six cases Saturday to Sunday, and 16 cases Sunday to Monday.
Which shows that the virus is still active in the community even as people start going back to normal routines in business, community and schools.
Both Dr Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix ask British Columbians to ‘remain all in’ to the public health measures that are proven to work: physical distancing, frequent hand washing, staying home if you’re ill, and wearing a mask if you can’t maintain a 2-metre distance from others.
‘Fewer faces, bigger spaces’ is Dr Henry’s advice. But many people are exhibiting fatigue with the impacts of physical distancing. It wears on people emotionally, psychologically, and in financial ways if they can’t get out to do things or as things take more time to do carefully.
Especially many young people, they just want to get on with their lives. Some say ‘if I get the disease it won’t be that serious’ (because of their age). But the consequential effects of the COVID viral infection include cardiovascular — as seen in some children after they have the active infection. Older men seem to die more often than older women from this disease (bodies less able to adapt – possibly having to do with immune system over-active response, and/or underlying heart or arterial conditions).
Vancouver Island is not immune:
Vancouver Island has seen one new case (reported over the weekend), after six weeks without a new case.
“People travel and this virus is spread between people. We cannot survive on this island without people coming back and forth for things like groceries,” said Dr Henry yesterday. “It’s not a surprise to me that we’ve seen a case here (on the island),” she told media.
“This reminds us that this virus is still circulating in this community,” said Dr Henry. “It’s at a low level because of the things we’ve done together to protect ourselves and our families,” she said.
On Vancouver Island, 87 people have died from COVID-19 infection. Presently six people are in hospital (four of those in ICU). Overall, 954 people have had or still have or have died from COVID-19 on Vancouver Island.
New data modelling ahead of Phase 3:
The fourth update of COVID-19 data modelling for BC will be presented by Dr Henry today Tuesday June 23 at 3 pm. On the usual online social media streams.
If it’s good news, it’s thought that BC could possibly move into Phase 3 of the Restart BC economic recovery program. Which means people will be moving about in communities more and also travelling around BC more now this summer.