COVID July 29: Another 41 cases in BC

Wednesday July 29, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC

by Mary Brooke, editor ~ West Shore Voice News

Another 41 cases of COVID-19 were posted today in the BC Centre for Disease Control statistics. That brings the total number of cases in BC to 3,562 (including a data correction from yesterday).

There are 259 active cases of COVID-19 in the province (six in hospital, and two of those in ICU) and 3,109 people who tested positive have recovered. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,071 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,846 in the Fraser Health region, 143 in the Island Health region, 356 in the Interior Health region, 86 in the Northern Health region and 60 cases of people who reside outside of Canada,” it was detailed in today’s release from the Ministry of Health.

The increase in cases since yesterday includes one child under the age of 10, and seven youth and teens age 10 to 19. In the 20-29 age group there were nine new cases. Among middle-age adults there were 18 cases (10 in the 30-39 age grouping, four in the 40-49 age category, and two in the 50-59 age group). Among seniors in the relatively active 60-69 age group there were six new cases. There were only two new cases among people older than age 80 years.

No new deaths today:

There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths in today’s data, for a total of 194 deaths in BC. There was one new death yesterday.

Health Minister Adrian Dix always expresses his condolences — and on behalf of the Premier and everyone in public health and around the province — to families who are dealing with the loss of a loved one due to COVID-19.

Continued outbreaks:

There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks and the outbreak at St. Paul’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit has now been declared over, it was stated in today’s release. In total, one long-term care facility and one acute-care facility have active outbreaks.

There is a continued outbreak at Holy Family Hospital long-term care facility in the Vancouver Coastal Health area.

“There are no new community outbreaks,” says Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry.

Currently, there are 20 cases on Haida Gwaii and 31 cases connected to Fraser Valley Packers Inc in Burnaby (where blueberries are processed). Public health teams continue to support these active outbreaks.

Of note, there are no health concerns related to the consumption of fruit from Fraser Valley Packers Inc. However, people are reminded to always wash fruit and vegetables before eating them.

New exposure events:

“There continues to be additional community exposure events throughout the province. An alert has been issued for Liquid Zoo in Kelowna,” it was stated today in the joint release from Dr Henry and Health Minister Dix. The Liquid Zoo website does have a COVID-19 safety plan posted on their website.

“Anyone who may have been at that night club from July 15 to 18 is asked to monitor themselves closely, limit their contact with others and contact 811 to get tested, if symptoms develop,” was the public health messaging about that exposure event today.

A full listing of community exposure events related to flights and others within each health authority is available through the BC Centre for Disease Control, as well as on health authority websites.

COVID-safe on BC Day long weekend:

The BC Day long weekend is coming up Saturday August 1 through Monday August 3. The weather is usually appropriate for outdoor activities. Warm temperatures and no rain is the forecast for the full weekend on south Vancouver Island.

“To play safe and stay safe this weekend, and protect all of our communities from COVID-19, we all need to use the layers of protection we have available and keep your groups small,” said Dr Henry in today’s statement.

“Staying a safe distance from others is the best way to slow the spread of the virus. If you are in a crowded area, outside or inside, and you can’t maintain a safe physical distance, wearing a mask is a further protective layer.”

“We also need to remember to wash our hands regularly, clean surfaces more often, follow one-way pathways and always, without exception, stay home if you are at all feeling ill,” says Dr Henry.

“The actions you take make a difference and will help all of us to stay safe this summer. Let’s bend our curve back down and keep our province strong,” says Minister Dix.

===== Links:

Community exposure events:
BC Centre for Disease Control (flights, worksites, 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

Amended order on mass gatherings:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

B.C.’s surgical renewal plan and the first report on its progress from July 21:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0228-001337

Latest data modelling information presented on July 20: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/modelling-projections

BC’s Restart Plan: www.gov.bc.ca/restartbc

Mental health and anxiety support: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com

Latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

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.

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