Thursday December 24, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., editor | Island Social Trends
On this Christmas Eve in the year of COVID-19, Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia.
They delivered a livestreamed media conference yesterday, and will again on Tuesday December 29.
“Stay local, stay small,” said Minister Dix yesterday in the bi-weekly COVID-19 media availability. “All interactions should meet the test of necessity in our lives,” he said.
Dix thanked grocery workers, health-care workers and people in the education system for all they’re doing to keep things moving along for people during the pandemic.
December 24 COVID stats:
Today’s BC Centre for Disease Control stats show new cases of COVID-19 still above 500, deep in this second wave of the pandemic. The 582 new cases bring the BC total to 48,609.
Presently 8,865 people are dealing with active cases of COVID-19 in BC. There are 341 individuals currently hospitalized with the viral infection (of whom 78 are in intensive care). The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.
Currently 9,732 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases. A further 37,784 people who tested positive have recovered.
Distribution of cases continues to be strongest in the lower mainland. Since yesterday there were 107 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 326 in the Fraser Health region, 10 in Island Health, 71 in Interior Health region, 68 in Northern Health region. No new cases of people who reside outside of Canada (mostly that grouping is temporary foreign workers).
Vaccination:
Since the start of COVID-19 immunizations last week (Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine), 8,178 people have received shots (that’s shot one of two — with a booster to come in 35 days). Dr Henry as well as Island Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Richard Stanwick received their first vaccination for COVID-19 on Tuesday this week.
“In addition to our health-care workers, immunization of residents in long-term care is now also underway. Given seniors and Elders have been most severely impacted by this virus, this is welcome news for all of us,” it was stated in the BC Health news release today.
Deaths due to COVID:
There have been 12 new COVID-19 related deaths today December 24, for a total of 808 in BC. None of those were in Island Health in the past 24 hours.
“We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic,” say Dr Henry and Minister Dix.
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks, and the outbreak at Belvedere Care Centre is over. There have been no new community outbreaks.
A COVID Christmas:
It will be interesting to see how closely people follow the public health guidance around restricting their social interactions to household-only. The public health recommendation is to do virtual (online) activities or walk outdoors.
“We can all safely connect with loved ones near and far – those in our community, in different parts of the province and around the world with the many tools available to us.”
“By staying small and staying apart this holiday season, we’re protecting the people we care about most and ensuring the coming weeks and months are better, brighter and safer for everyone. Together, let’s make this holiday season a safe season for all of us.”
For updated provincial health officer’s (PHO) orders and new guidance:
For details on new restrictions, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions
For updated PHO 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
Find out where to get tested:
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
Mental health and anxiety support, visit: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
Or visit the BCCDC for further supports: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/mental-well-being-during-covid-19
Information on overdoses, visit: https://www.stopoverdose.gov.bc.ca
People in BC experiencing violence can access VictimLink, a toll-free, confidential multilingual service available 24/7 by calling or texting 1 800 563-0808 or emailing: VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca (mailto:VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca)
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.
COVID-19 exposure events, updates and information by health authority: 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.
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