July 31 COVID: 50 more cases in BC on eve of BC Day long weekend

Friday July 31, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC

by Mary Brooke, B.Sc., editor ~ West Shore Voice News

Another 50 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 3,641.

There are 278 active cases of COVID-19 in the province (five in hospital, and two of those in ICU) and 3,168 people who tested positive have recovered. The remaining people who tested positive for COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,088 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,889 in the Fraser Health region, 144 in the Island Health region, 369 in the Interior Health region, 88 in the Northern Health region and 63 cases of people who reside outside of Canada,” it was detailed in the July 31 joint statement today from Minister Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry.

Cases by age:

The increase of 50 cases since yesterday is comprised of two infections in children under the age of 10, and one in the 10 to 19 age bracket.

The highest new-case tally today is in the 20-29 age group, with a total of 19 cases (38% of today’s total increase).

Among middle-age adults there were 21 cases in today’s July 31 BC-CDC report, comprised of 12 cases in the 30-39 age grouping, four in the 40-49 age category, and five in the 50-59 age group.

Among seniors in the relatively active 60-69 age group there were two new cases (compared to four new cases yesterday). There were no new cases among people older than age 70 years.

Vancouver Island tally shows one new case (age 20 to 29 years):

The total number of cases on Vancouver Island (Island Health Authority) is 144, which is up one since yesterday. That person is in the 20-29 year age group.

One new death:

There has been one more death in BC due to COVID-19, reported today (a person in the Vancouver Coastal health authority). That brings the total to 195 in BC.

Health care facility outbreak:

There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Dania Home in the Fraser Health region. There are now two long-term care facilities (including Holy Family Hospital long-term care facility) and one acute-care facility with active outbreaks.

Vancouver Island: There are no COVID-19 outbreaks at Island Health facilities at this time, including long-term care facilities.

Community outbreaks:

There are no new community outbreaks, says BC Health. They say their public health teams continue to support the active outbreaks on Haida Gwaii (20 cases yesterday) and at Fraser Valley Packers Inc (59 cases yesterday).

It’s safe to eat the blueberries as may have been packed at Fraser Valley Packers but be sure to wash all fresh fruits and vegetables before consumption, especially if eaten raw, says Dr Henry. In general, gastric juices in the stomach kill the COVID virus.

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.

Today on July 31 BC Health released Dr Henry’s ‘good times’ COVID guidelines (including safe partying, visiting, and hooking up), available online at https://goodtimes.gov.bc.ca/

“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:

“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,” says Minister Dix. 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.”

People in their 20s to 40s have spread the virus to friends, families, and strangers at house parties, bars, restaurants, and more, it was affirmed today on the BC Government’s ‘Good Times’ website.

“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:

Access to a COVID-19 vaccine is at least a year into the future, 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 on July 29.

“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,” the PHO says.

===== Links:

COVID travel guidelines: Dr. Bonnie Henry’s Good Times Guide: https://goodtimes.gov.bc.ca/

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