Friday October 30, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., editor | Island Social Trends
On this eve of Halloween, the message from Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry is to have a COVID-safe Halloween. Protocols have been issued by the BC Centre for Disease Control.
“Be outside, enjoy the fall foliage and Halloween decorations. Now is not the time for parties or large gatherings in our homes. Let’s spend time with others in a safe way, outside or in venues that have COVID-19 safety plans in place,” said Dr Henry in a statement on this Friday afternoon ahead of Halloween.
“The provincial health officer order limiting the number of people who can visit our home is in effect and surveillance will be increased for the weekend ahead,” it was stated in today’s BC Health release.
Now 6,003 people are self-isolating in BC due to known exposure to COVID-19. “Respect homes that are choosing not to participate this year,” says Dr Henry.
Face masks to be worn in all indoor public spaces:
This week Dr Henry defended her approach around the use of face masks. By public health order, face masks are to be worn in all indoor public spaces.
Her philosophy (and BC’s public health strategy) is to trust people to do the right thing. However, even people who have the best of intentions will be lax on the use of masks if not ordered or enforced.
But this is BC, and we give people their space to make responsible decisions.
October 30 COVID stats:
The total BC COVID case count is 14,381 which is up by 272 cases in the last 24 hours. Those new cases were found through 10,420 tests.
That’s a positivity rate of 2.6% which is up from yesterday’s 2.31%. That means every person with COVID is passing it on to two or more people); the rate should be viewed over a week’s time for a reliable indication of where things are heading, said Dr Henry today.
Of the total BC cases, 2,390 (+46) are active. And of those 78 (-8) people are in hospital, with 25 (+1) in intensive care.
Today there are no new cases on Vancouver Island, with the total remaining at 256; most cases continue to occur in the lower mainland areas (Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions).
There has been one new death by COVID-19 in BC today, bringing the total to 263.
Outbreaks:
There has been one new COVID-19 community outbreak at Suncor Firebag Oil Sands. Exposure events continue around the province. Public alerts and notifications are posted on the BC CDC website and all health authority websites.
There have been three new health-care facility outbreaks at these locations: Hawthorne Seniors Care Community, CareLife Fleetwood, and Queen’s Park Hospital (unit 3C NMSK 2). The outbreaks at Fort Langley Seniors Community, the Village and Sunset Manor and Good Samaritan Victoria Heights have been declared over. In total, 24 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and two acute-care facilities have active outbreaks.
COVID-19 age distribution (October 30):
Of the 14,381 COVID-19 cases in BC at October 30, the increases have been steady across all age groups over the past week or two.
Among all persons under age 19 (children and teens combined), there have been 1,595 (+39 in the last day). That’s 11% of total cases in BC to date in the pandemic this year (consistent through this week).
In the October 3- COVID stats, nine children under the age of 10 tested positive, and 30 kids and teens (age 10 to 19 years) tested positive.
Mainstream working-age adults (age 20 to 59) are seeing case-surges. In the last 24 hours those groups combined saw 205 (+30) new cases (30 more than yesterday, with 14 on Wednesday and 30 on Tuesday).
People in their 20s — with their whole adult lives ahead of them, possibly now compromised by lingering impacts of the COVID infection — comprise 3,372 of the cases (consistently 23.4% this week), so far this year. This not only impacts their own health and lives (and probably those of the people around them) but will have an impact on what work they can or cannot do, which leads to economic impacts.
Many adults in their 60s are still working (if not in the mainstream workplace, then from home). As they are generally included in the ‘age’ risk factor, this group needs to be looked at distinctly (older but not quite elder).
In total there have been 1,117 test-positive COVID cases in people ages 60 to 69 in BC (+27 since yesterday, +19 and +20 on the previous two days). That’s 7.76% of all cases so far this year.
The elderly (age 70+) are seeing strong case-count increases. Not all of these people are in long-term care, some are still trying to maintain independent lifestyles.
To date in the pandemic, there have been 1,313 test-positive cases of COVID-19 in the BC CDC cohorts called 70-79, 80-89, and 90+. That’s 15 more cases in the last 24 hours (on top of 15 and 20 more cases on the previous two days this week). Breakdown:
- 70 to 79: 6671 (+6 in the last day)
- 80 to 89: 428 (+7 in the last day)
- 90+: 214 (+2 in the last day)
Hospitalization, testing and contact tracing:
In the pandemic in BC to date there have been 990 hospitalizations (26 of those on Vancouver Island). As of October 30 there are 78 (+8) people in hospital, with 25 of those in intensive care or acute care.
There have been 827,496 tests done in BC this year for COVID-19. A total of 10,420 tests were done in the 24-hours.
As announced yesterday, the province is boosting its hiring of contact tracers to 800 new people in those roles (up from the promise of 500 new contract tracer jobs back in August).
==== LINKS (local):
Langford reminds residents about COVID safety (October 17, 2020)
State of Emergency renewed now 17 times during pandemic (October 28, 2020)
Keeping it to safe-six at home (October 28, 2020)
Halloween a chance to jump ship for a night (October 28, 2020)
BC hot zone for COVID infections is the lower mainland (October 29, 2020)
===== LINKS (provided by BC Health):
BCCDC’s safer celebrations guidance: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/social-interactions/safer-celebrations
To learn more about the Oct. 5 modelling presentation, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COVID19_Going_Forward_Oct_2020.pdf
Guidance for Halloween during COVID-19: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/social-interactions/halloween
To find the provincial health officer’s 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
To see a map of COVID-19 cases by local health area, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
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
For mental health and anxiety support, visit: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
For a listing of the community exposure events, visit:
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.
For 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.
For the 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