Thursday June 25, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC
by Mary Brooke, B.Sc., editor ~ West Shore Voice News
In BC there were 20 more cases of COVID-19 reported today by Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry yesterday. That’s 19 test-positive cases and one epi-linked case. Bringing the total on June 25 today to 2,869 cases. Distribution: 970 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,504 in Fraser Health, 131 on Vancouver Island, 199 in Interior Health, and 65 in Northern Health Region.
There have been no new outbreaks, but three more residents in long term care and one more staff have tested positive. In total, the long-term health care tally of COVID-19 cases is 379 residents and 229 health care workers.
Two remaining community outbreaks are being monitored and supported. No new cases reported today in those outbreaks.
COVID-19 viral infection can be serious. As of today there are 179 active cases of COVID-19 in BC, with 15 of those people in hospital (of which seven are in critical care or ICU).
Among children and youth, the tally is 114 cases today, which shows a steady rise since the beginning of June. The breakdown is 42 cases up to age 10, and 72 cases in youth and teens (to age 19).
Two more deaths from COVID-19 infection were reported by Dr Henry today. bringing the total in BC to 173. Both persons had been residents of long term care — one in Fraser Health, and one in Vancouver Coastal Health.
In BC, 2,517 people have fully recovered from COVID-19.
One teacher infected:
Of the new cases announced today, one is a teacher in a public school in Fraser Health. Dr Henry says that all close contacts have been notified by public health teams, and that none of the students are exposed from that case.
“We anticipated and planned for this potential”, said Dr Henry, as part of the return to some in-class teaching in BC. “All of the school districts and the Ministry of Education moved quickly” when the case was identified, she said.
However, it was uncovered through public health contact tracing that the infection was picked up by the teacher from social contact outside the school and was not brought into the school, Dr Henry outlined.
We are now heading into Phase 3:
Yesterday Premier John Horgan and Dr Henry explained how BC is opening up for more economic and social activity in Phase 3.
Phase 3 is now in effect. People will be moving about in communities more and also travelling around BC more now this summer. Hotels, resorts and spas may open up if they are operating within COVID-19 safety guidelines (more info about COVID-19 situational management is online at WorkSafeBC).
This phase also allows for the restart of in-person classes for K-12 and also post-secondary, though today Dr Henry said she expects to still see some hybrid action in schools and post-secondary, particularly as things could still be different or evolving with the virus come September.
State of Emergency renewed to July 7:
The State of Emergency in BC was once again renewed (this is the eighth time), extending now to end of day on July 7, 2020.
What happens in Phase 3 depends on everyone:
Today Health Minister Adrian Dix reminded everyone that physical distancing saves lives. What happens in Phase 3 depends on all of us, he said.
“Out in the world together, we have to be more vigilant about physical distancing,” said Dix. He said “It’s easy to stay home and be isolated” but now people have to “be more conscious of not going out if you’re not well”.
“Be conscious of washing your hands and not touching your face… to stop transmission,” said Dix, with a contextual reminder that COVID-19 infection numbers are soaring in the USA just to the south of Canada.
Proximity to rampant spread in the USA:
“We are in a world situation which has not been very positive for COVID-19, with a record number of cases in the US today,” he said. Infection is still spreading in states closest to the BC border including Washington State, Oregon and California.
Nevertheless, yesterday Premier John Horgan was pleased to announce that the film industry in BC (aka ‘Hollywood North’) has reopened for business, but with all personnel including actors required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Canada.