Friday November 13, 2020 | Victoria, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., editor | Island Social Trends
It seems to be the way things are going … another record-setting day for new case counts in BC.
This Friday the 13th, there are 617 new cases of COVID-19. That brings the BC total to 20,985. Of those, 5,579 are active.
A record 167 people are hospitalized, with 50 in intensive care.
Public health messaging:
“Now is the time for everyone, right across our province, to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19. This is a critical time for everyone in our province,” said Dr Henry in her statement today. She asks people to support friends and neighbours and to take care of those who are most at risk by following the orders and using layers of protection (physical distance, frequent hand washing, and wearing a face mask).
For many months, media and other have asked for stronger, more consistent messaging from public health leaders and their governments.
Today Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked all the provincial premiers to not just expect people to do the right thing, but to guide them with more gusto to follow the public health guidance.
Life-impacts:
The number of people who must stay home in isolation and be monitored by public health has reached a new peak as well. That tally is 12,016 people who have been around someone with an identified exposure to known cases.
Now 14,901 people in BC have recovered after having tested positive for COVID-19.
Today the joint statement about COVID from Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix includes two new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 290 deaths in BC.
Age profile:
Case increases in the BC COVID-19 stats are seen in all age groups in today’s new-case profile from the BC Centre for Disease Control.
As has been the trend for the past few weeks, the highest daily case increases are seen again today for people in their 20’s and 30’s.
Children under the age of 10 saw 30 new cases today (none on Vancouver Island). Kids and teens in ages 10 to 19 show 102 new cases (only three of those on Vancouver Island).
Yesterday Dr Henry said that most cases in the 10 to 19 age group are actually seen in older teens ages 18 and 19 (saying it shows more of the adult exposure and case pattern).
School exposures:
On Vancouver Island, two high schools in Nanaimo are currently listed as having exposures. Dover Bay Secondary (November 2, 5 ad 6) and John Barsby Secondary (November 5 & 6; November 9 & 10) both have COVID-19 clusters.
Outbreaks:
There are three new health-care facility outbreaks — all of those in mainland BC areas, none on Vancouver Island. Now 35 long-term care or assisted living facilities have active outbreaks, as well as six acute-care facilities.
There have been no new community outbreaks and the outbreaks at Coast Spas and Pace Processing are now over.
Vancouver Island focus:
Today there are 16 new cases on Vancouver Island. That’s among the highest one-day counts during the pandemic to date. In total there have been 340 cases to date, of which 67 are presently active.
People in all age groups from age 10 to 89 saw increases on Vancouver Island in today’s stats.
While the dashboard shows no one in hospital, it also shows two people being in intensive care in Island Health.
As new cases roll in, the greater increase is in the south Vancouver Island area — presently a total of 128 cases, compared to 113 in central and 99 in the northern part of the island.
===== LINKS (provided by government):
Nov. 12 modelling update:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/modelling-projections
To find the PHO’s orders, visit:
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
Guidance on new restrictions for those in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health regions: http://gov.bc.ca/regionalrestrictions
Businesses in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions with group physical activities can submit their plans to: ehvc@vch.ca (mailto:ehvc@vch.ca)
Or worksitefitnessplans@fraserhealth.ca (mailto:worksitefitnessplans@fraserhealth.ca)
BCCDC’s safer celebrations guidance, including for Diwali:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/social-interactions/safer-celebrations
BCCDC national and international COVID-19 epidemiological data:
https://bccdc.shinyapps.io/covid19_global_epi_app/
To see a map of COVID-19 cases by local health area, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
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
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 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