Thursday July 30, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC
by Mary Brooke, editor ~ West Shore Voice News
Another 29 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 3,591.
There are 242 active cases of COVID-19 in the province (five in hospital, and two of those in ICU) and 3,155 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 1,076 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,865 in the Fraser Health region, 143 in the Island Health region, 360 in the Interior Health region, 86 in the Northern Health region and 61 cases of people who reside outside of Canada,” it was detailed in the July 30 joint statement today from Minister Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry.
Cases by age:
The increase of 29 cases since yesterday is comprised of one child under the age of 10, and four in the 10 to 19 age bracket.
In the 20-29 age group there were eight new cases.
Among middle-age adults there were 17 cases (three in the 30-39 age grouping, five in the 40-49 age category, and one in the 50-59 age group).
Among seniors in the relatively active 60-69 age group there were four new cases. There were no new cases among people older than age 70 years.
No new deaths:
There were no new COVID-19 deaths today. The tally stands at 194 in BC.
Outbreak in Haida Gwaii:
In response to a community outbreak on Haida Gwaii, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth is using extraordinary powers under the current state of provincial emergency to restrict non-resident travel to the archipelago, maintain essential goods and services for residents, and support the Haida Nation and the Province’s continued COVID-19 pandemic response.
The decision to restrict non-resident travel to Haida Gwaii has been made in a government-to-government collaboration with Council of the Haida Nation, Skidegate Band Council, Old Massett Village Council and local governments, in consultation with the provincial health officer. The Province will deploy staff to support communities on the mainland and on Haida Gwaii to implement the travel restriction.
There are currently 20 cases associated with the outbreak on Haida Gwaii. According to Northern Health, all cases are believed to be related to residents who have travelled off-island, or who had contact with a resident who has travelled off-island.
Washing fruits & vegetables:
Today Dr Henry issued a reminder that the consumption of fruit from a location where people are confirmed to have COVID-19 (such as the blueberry packing plant in Burnaby) is safe. However, people are reminded to always wash fruits and vegetables before consumption.
She added that a current outbreak of salmonella in BC also comes with the recommendation to wash fruits and vegetables, especially to eaten raw. This particular salmonella outbreak is associated with red onions imported from the USA. Red onions grown in Canada are not part of the advisory.
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 yesterday
“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.
Canada Day lessons applied to BC Day long weekend:
“In recent weeks, B.C. has faced an increase in new cases and new outbreaks of COVID-19. Much of this surge can be connected to Canada Day activities in the Kelowna area,” said Dr Henry today.
“What we have seen is that when our groups are too big and we see too many people outside of our household bubble, the potential for the virus to spread increases. We voiced our concern and British Columbians have listened. We thank you for resetting and rejoining our efforts to push our COVID-19 curve down and keep it low and slow in B.C.”
“BC travel is a welcome break, but it is a not a holiday from skills,” said Minister Dix today. “Pack our COVID skills. It is not a break from COVID sense.”
“On the BC holiday long weekend, through summer and fall – physical distancing must always be our closest travel companion,” the Health Minister said. He suggested that the letters B & C in BC Day could stand for “battle covid”, “break the chain”, and “bend the curve”. And with additional enthusiasm: “That would be a BC day weekend to remember. Safe and fun and memorable for all the right reasons,” said Dix.
Awaiting a vaccine:
A COVID-19 vaccine is at least a year off, according to most medical and public health officials. That is based on the timeline to develop, test, manufacture, distribute and administer.
Even that is potentially just a hope, as inferred by former BC Green Party leader Dr Andrew Weaver (still MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head) in the BC legislature yesterday.
“Until we have an effective vaccine, we all need to find the balance of reducing our risks and increasing our social connections. It is not difficult to do, but requires all of our effort, all of the time. This is how we play safe and stay safe,” says Dr Henry.
“The fewer new cases and exposure events, the more opportunities we all have to enjoy the summer and have fun. More businesses are open and more activities are available to all of us.”
===== 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
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