Wednesday November 18, 2002 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated 10:35 pm] with BC CDC data correction on November 25, 2020, total cases was actually 624.
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., editor | Island Social Trends
Today there were 762 more test-positive cases of COVID-19 in BC. That’s the highest one-day tally so far in the pandemic. That brings the province-wide total to 24,422. Of those, there are 6,861 active cases (up by 272 from yesterday).
Now 209 people are in hospital (up from 198 yesterday). Of those, 58 are in intensive care (down from 63 yesterday). Total COVID hospitalizations this year in BC stand at 1,384.
“We have seen a rising number of new cases of COVID-19 across the province and we need to slow this down. We need to put the brakes on the virus and doing this requires a sustained effort by all of us,” said Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix in their joint statement today, November 18.
Self-isolating due to exposure:
Now 9,871 people are under active public health monitoring and self-isolating at home due to exposure to a known COVID-19 case. That’s down from 10,960 yesterday.
[Update November 25, 2020: Dr Henry announced a data correction in Fraser Health Region numbers — due to an error in data transfer from lab to health authority — which changes the daily count for November 17 to 24. For November 18 the correct new-cases tally is 624, not 762. For November 19 the correct day’s COVID total for all of BC was 765. For November 20 the correct new case-count total is now 639, for November 21 the correct total new-case count is now 835, for November 22 it is 791, and for November 23 it’s 772.]
The impact of withdrawing from normal routines for 14 days (the full COVID-19 incubation period) can be far-reaching. There is social isolation from friends and family, perhaps missing work or school, and many interruptions large and small to activities, relationships, social network and finances.
Death count has risen dramatically:
Today there are 10 more deaths due to COVID-19 in BC. On top of yesterday’s 11 more deaths, BC’s COVID-19 death tally is now 320. That is lower than in other jurisdictions of a similar population size, but it’s possible evidence of increasing transmission and generally less attention to flattening the curve as we all fatigue at the continued pressures of following COVID public health protocols.
Vancouver Island COVID profile:
On Vancouver Island there was a record new-case count of 20 today (higher than yesterday’s 16).
New cases are seen in all age groups from infant to 69 years. Yesterday there were also new cases in the age groups of 70+.
Today’s new cases on Vancouver Island include two children under the age of 10, and two youth in the 10 to 19 age category.
Total COVID cases in Vancouver Island to date this year now tally to 417. Presently 118 of the Island Health cases are active (up from 114 yesterday). Regional distribution of those cases is 31 in the south, 71 central and 16 north.
Today Premier John Horgan said the increasing cases on Vancouver Island are a result of people travelling to the mainland (where cases are rampant) and returning with the virus.
Today Premier Horgan also mentioned that the Chief Medical Officer for Island Health, Dr Richard Stanwick, has made his case to Dr Henry and to Horgan about perhaps now having a public health order to restrict travel to and from the island during this worsening phase of the pandemic.
Hospitalizations and deaths:
Same as yesterday, two people are in hospital in Island Health (one in ICU). When a patient is in intensive care for COVID-19 it usually involves being sedated for a few or many days while being supported by a mechanical ventilator.
Total hospitalizations this year due to COVID stand at 28 in Island Health.
There are no new deaths reported today on Vancouver Island. The total remains at six where it’s been since September 28.
Outbreaks & exposures on Vancouver Island:
There are now six school exposures and clusters in schools on Vancouver Island — four in Nanaimo, one in Ladysmith and one in Port Alberni.
Yesterday an outbreak at Tsawaayuss-Rainbow Gardens long-term care home in the Port Alberni area was included in the BC Health list of 42 outbreaks in assisted-living, long-term care homes, and seniors’ rental buildings: 28 in Fraser Health, nine in Vancouver Coastal, three in Interior Health, one in Northern Health, and now this first one in Island Health.
Yesterday’s case at Tsawaayuss-Rainbow Gardens was in a health-care worker. Today a second case was known, this time a resident.
There is also an outbreak at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital that started November 11.
There has also been a possible exposure at the Browns Socialhouse restaurant in Courtenay (November 3 and 5). They have COVID safety protocols posted on their website.
Dr Henry says that restaurants and businesses that have strong COVID safety plans in place are not the source of very much transmission. Transmission is known to presently be resulting from social gatherings where protocols are not followed, as well as in private households where protocols are generally not followed (nor would that be expected).
See current further detail about Island Health exposures, clusters and outbreaks.
Second wave strategy:
“This second surge is putting a strain on our health-care system, our workplaces and us all. We need to ease this pressure so we can continue to manage the virus in our province and also continue to do the many activities that are important to us,” said Minister Dix in a statement today.
“While your personal efforts may seem small or having little impact, the collective benefit to every community in every region is significant. Our safety layers are there to help protect us and they work best when we are all using them, all of the time,” he said.
“Now is the time to stay small, stay local and do your part — at home, work, school and in your community,” said Dr Henry.
Christmas during COVID:
On Monday Dr Henry said she still isn’t sure about how we can spend Christmas in our homes — with just immediate household members or also others (still in our safe six) who don’t live with us. The main point, is to spend Christmas (now just 37 days away) at home, without travelling.
She said last week that she’s pretty sure Santa Claus is immune to the COVID-19 virus.
